High-Tech Disasters

By the time this issue comes out, every reader will be familiar with the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast of the United States. Even though the victims\´ pain and suffering are certainly no worse than that borne by victims of any natural or man-made disaster, this particular disaster is notable for two reasons. First, seldom has a major city anywhere in the world been destroyed, for all intents and purposes, over a couple days. It\´s rare enough that these events often become legends such as Pompeii and Atlantis. But second, this may well be the first "high-tech" disaster in history, and that makes it particularly relevant to the software engineering community. Computing is playing an unparalleled role in coping with the aftermath. This column looks at technology\´s role in addressing the many issues involved and what individuals can do to help.