She is fine and the damage in her part of the city is minimal. Her school made sure that she and her pupils reached home safely as soon as the wind started to get up.

When she got there, she was advised to tape her windows, fill the bath with water in case that got cut off, move her bed into the kitchen as that is the only room with no windows, sleep in her clothes, prepare a food and water pack and be ready to go in the event that the Tannoy system in the block announced evacuation, which would be to schools or local and central government buildings, all of which are built like fortresses.

She was assured that, in that event, the military would be on hand and no order to evacuate would be given unless the transport necessary was available.

The Japanese are as horrified as we are by the mayhem wreaked by Hurricane Katrina but quite baffled by the lack of anticipation, preparation and organisation at all levels before its arrival.

GUY GREENHOUS
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
sarahgreenhous@waitrose.com

From Mr Dave Hepworth

Sir, The long-term impact of the failure of US government at all levels has yet to be seen, but it is clear that the social, environmental, economic and political costs have only just begun.

We need to reflect on our own Government’s plans for a major disaster. The foot-and-mouth epidemic and what little we know of the preparations for avian flu suggest that we ought to be concerned.

How confident can we be that our own Government’s plans to respond to a major terrorist attack or a meteorological disaster are based on the idea that ordinary people matter?

DAVE HEPWORTH
Great Longstone, Derbyshire

From Mr Luke Magee

Sir, British survivors of Hurricane Katrina and their relatives are said to have found British diplomatic staff unhelpful (report, September 5).

The first job of a government is to protect its citizens and we need to ensure that we have a well staffed and funded diplomatic presence in every country. Too often the news emerging from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the reverse, of embassy closures and diplomatic budget cutbacks.

Two high commissions and one embassy in Africa are soon to be shut. What will happen if a disaster hits those countries?

LUKE MAGEE
Ashford, Kent

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