Pride and fall

What we call “acts of God” are sometimes acts of reckless man | Marvin Olasky

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina will be documented once again in television specials later this month on the one-year anniversary. But it's still unclear whether the terrible storm cut into the "What, me worry?" attitude that has led many of us to build homes below sea level, on barrier islands, on hillsides with brush that annually burns, or over earthquake faults—and then be shocked, shocked when catastrophe comes.

New Orleans politicians, after using levee repair funds to build parkways or spruce up gambling casinos, were shocked when old levees gave way. But Louisiana, Florida, and other states have often suffered through massive floods made worse by underinvestment in protection as long as the sun is shining.