The BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and ongoing spill is only the latest in a series of dramatic high-profile disasters. A decade that began with the devastation of 9/11 has also featured Hurricane Katrina, massive flooding and destructive wildfires in the U.S.; high magnitude earthquakes in China, Haiti, and Chile with the resulting Tsunami in Malaysia and Thailand; the H1N1 epidemic; terrorist attacks or attempts worldwide; and mass killings by lone gunmen at Ft. Hood, Texas and Virginia Tech. If there is one lesson these horrific incidents clearly demonstrate, it’s the critical importance of proper disaster response and preparedness.