1. Klinenberg states in his article, “Denaturalizing Disaster,” that the elderly refused to leave their homes even after contacted by neighbors or service industries to do so. He makes the observation that “those most at risk may be least likely to want or accept help from government.” In this specific case, it is not an issue of government awareness, but an issue of the people at risk. Even during Hurricane Sandy here in New York, I have friends whose parents refused to evacuate their homes during the hurricane. They would rather hope for the best than leave all they’ve known behind to live outside of their privacy and in safety.

2. I also found it interesting how the effect of the disaster on the public relied heavily on how the media portrayed the disaster in terms of the amount of government involvement. If they proclaimed it was simply a natural disaster that could not be prevented, and focused heavily on the uncontrollable aspects, then the mayor would be off the hook and an innocent man. But the second they bring in government involvement, or lack of government involvement, officials feel the need to defend themselves in fear of becoming the bad guy.