Of Katrinas and Vameis

I guess it will be inevitable that sillyporeans, after reading about the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, will start imagining the what ifs. What if this little red dot was hit by a hurricane.

In fact, we were. And it wasn't too long ago. 27 December 2001. Typhoon Vamei.

Dubbed the impossible perfect storm, the damage wasn't comparable but it has taugh meteorologists never to say never. These days, the occurences of tropical cyclones are said to be rare. It is said that it will not happen again for the next 100-400 years but then, everybody was glad that George Bush had only 4 years in office, only to see him get re-elected.

So will we see looting? Will we see gang riots? We were lucky when the Boxing Day Tsunami happened last year we were pretty much spared. But should a "natural disaster" happen in Singapore (I am not thinking about Hotel New World or cable car incident), will there be lawlessness?

I guess being a small island state is at once our greatest flaw (no pun intended here, flaw also means a sudden brief gust of wind) and biggest (no pun intended, again. I swear.) lifeline. Relief work can be activated quickly and reach those who need it fast. Being able to mobilise the armed forces helps too. The only worry is that by the time a natural disaster is over, there isn't much left to salvage, much less save.

I choose to believe that should and when disaster strikes, Sillyporeans will be able to rally together, putting aside personal comfort and needs, to lend a helping hand. be it monetary aid or to actually volunteer for relief work. That in 40 years is the miracle. Not the miraculous economic growth.




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