Tsunami
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said it best: "For all the huge advances in the control of our lives through science and technology, an earthquake on this scale is truly humbling as well as profoundly tragic."
Yes, natural disasters are less lethal in richer, more technologically advanced nations, and yes Pacific coast residents have the advantage of some warning of tsunamis. But don't kid yourself. As most Californians know, nobody is truly prepared for an 8.9 magnitude earthquake. (Every quake, no matter how far away, is a local story in L.A., which is why I always turn to the LAT for coverage.)
You can make a contribution to the Red Cross International Response Fund here.