The definition of disaster, according to dictionary.com is "an occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe." There is little doubt that Hurricane Katrina did just that and more. And although people were able to escape, many were not and that made me think about what kind of preparation could be done for a "catastrophe" so horrific.

It's easy to get caught up in everyday life and forget how quickly our existence can be turned upside down. How do we prepare for a misfortune of this magnitude? Do we become a country forever on guard, naively waiting to meet the next irremediable calamity? Scurrying around with cases of bottled water and canned soup in our closets; there is little doubt that our society preys on the fear factor. It's in more than 50 % of the advertisements we see. So what are we to do?

Perhaps we can all chew on this food for thought. During a disaster you rarely think about getting out with anything but the shirt on your back, and it is not until the smoke clears that you realize you need much more. It's not just the material things, but information, and documents that prove to be most valuable; they prove who you are and who you were. When was the last time you updated your resume and executed a review of your work history? It's difficult to think about performing "job search 101"when you have not showered in three days.

I have spent many years writing how to books and for the first time I realized that I don't even take my own advice and complete the record books as I instruct others to do, or maintain pertinent information on my own family.

Recently my daughter suggested that perhaps we all need computer chips placed under our skin so we can easily be identified along with our personal, medical and work histories. I really think that is carrying things a bit far, but how do you start over when you have nothing? Did any one see the woman on the news who wrote her name on her arm so she could be identified if found dead?

How do you relocate and find employment for over half a million people? According to the Center for Law and Social Policy press release dated Wednesday, February 2, 2005, cuts to Adult Education proposed by President Bush would have devastating effects on the 51 million American out-of-school youth, and adults who lack a high school diploma or GED, and 29 million in need of English language services.

What does this have to do with Hurricane Katrina? Three states that would be hardest hit by the Adult Education budget cuts are Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi; states that faced especially high demands for adult education services. What kind of employment will the victims of Katrina be searching for and what type of training will the federal government offer those with limited education?

The federal government must learn that investing in the education of its citizens is the only way to assure that when disasters occur, and they will, families living in the ravaged area will have a fighting chance to start over with a shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. People don't want hand-outs; they want jobs, good paying jobs that will allow them to provide for their families.

In the coming weeks it will be interesting to see how the government handles the relocation of the hurricane victims. I was an Independent Living Program Supervisor about twenty years ago; working to reintroduce wayward youth back into society and it took me more than a year and some times two, to assist a client in creating a stable life journey. I know this is not the same, but the process of reestablishing a life is not going to be easy for Katrina victims and America better get ready. According to recent polls the poor and middle class in America already stand on rocky soil, live unstable lives and trust a purportedly insensitive inept government. Can it get any worse?

If you are interested in downloading the full analysis of the proposed adult education cuts, visit: http://www.clasp.org ; and for more information on how to prepare for natural disasters visit: http://www.ready.gov/natural_disasters.html.