(April 1, 2011) — No one can predict when or where the next big earthquake will hit. It is vital to be prepared for the worst, so that when a disaster strikes, you will know how to act. The way people responded to the Japanese earthquake should be a model for future disasters. Give credit to the Japanese government. People in Japan were warned seconds ahead on their cell phones about the 9.0 quake, giving them enough time to brace and take cover. When the tsunami formed in the ocean, citizens in Japan were cautioned about 12 minutes ahead of time that water would come flooding onto the land. We all know the story about Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. The images and videos of water rushing over the city’s levees and people standing on top of their homes yelling for help are daunting and unforgettable. One big difference between the New Orleans and Japanese disasters is the way the people living in the areas responded. In New Orleans, people looted and destroyed stores, getting a hold of anything they could. There were never reports on the news of hoards of people breaking into stores in Japan. The crisis of the nuclear reactors greatly added to the already unfortunate conditions in Japan. Looking at the pictures of Japan, it seems as if a combination of Hurricane Katrina and the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has taken a toll on Japan. The world response for Japan was remarkable. Many countries sent aid, in the form of search and rescue teams, and donations from people. Even non-ally countries Korea and China sent help. Japan’s government acted swiftly in comparison to the U.S. government and FEMA’s actions during Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. government should learn from Japan and integrate a similar system in preparation for future disasters. Currently, Japan is facing one of the most economically and emotionally damaging natural disasters ever. Without this preparation, Japan could be in a much worse situation.