A few years ago there were massive floods in Mozambique...many people were plucked out of trees with the few South African helicopters. I thought this was so preventable at the time...many died. All the needed was some satellite rainfall rate estimates (cloud top temperatures) and may a few rain guages in the neighboring countries where much of the rain fell...and a simple model of how it would run off....and the people could have been warned and evacuated in time....with just a few resources. All they needed in New Orleans...and still need....was a simple plan and a lot of busses. They still need the busses...let's see...it is Thurs night...
Chris