Abstract :
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.
