In 2005, the United States experienced the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. The devastation that Hurricane Katrina unleashed on the city of New Orleans was not unexpected. The storm developed six days before its landfall on Aug. 29, 2005. Over 1,800 people perished not only as a result of the hurricane and subsequent floods, but also from thirst, exhaustion and violence that followed the hurricane. The media flooded the American public with images of the destruction and the desperation of those victims still stranded in the flooded city. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated to us that there is no way to prevent natural disasters–you can only prepare and respond. Those responsible for responding to Hurricane Katrina failed miserably.

The order to evacuate New Orleans was given only 19 hours before the hurricane struck, not allowing adequate time for residents to leave. Flaws in the city’s emergency response plan were revealed when designated shelters such as the Superdome overflowed with residents. Although there were many logistical and organizational failures that amplified the storm’s impact, the biggest criticism was of the lack of leadership during the emergency response.

This month, a magnitude 7.0 hurricane struck the poorest country in the western hemisphere. To date, over 80,000 have been confirmed dead in Haiti, and that number is expected to exceed 100,000. The damage in Haiti is definitely worse than what happened in New Orleans and the response has, thus far, been far superior. This difference is directly a result of public leadership, and it is a shining example of how the intangible qualities of leadership can be so important in times of crisis.

The Haitian government was crippled by the quake, with most of its ministries and even the presidential palace in ruins. Haiti’s government and infrastructure was in desperate need of assistance, and the response by the United States has been incredible. This is due in large part to the Obama administration’s leadership and ability to empathize with the people of Haiti. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Haiti the day following the quake. In an impassioned speech, President Obama ensured the people of Haiti that they would not be forsaken. The United States has pledged millions of dollars and supplies to Haiti.

In watching the government’s remarkable response to another country’s disaster, it is evident that this current administration has learned much from the failures of its predecessors in emergency response. Former President George W. Bush was on vacation while New Orleans was devastated by Katrina, and he was remarkably soft-spoken during the aftermath. Bush’s failure to adequately respond to the disaster attracted heavy criticism, notably Kanye West’s infamous accusation that “George Bush doesn’t like black people.” In contrast, President Obama and his entire administration have shown a steady and confident poise that has inspired many Americans to give to Haiti, and has hopefully comforted the people of Haiti in this time of disaster.

While the United States’ powerful image as the world leader has dimmed around the globe with this economic recession, the government’s response to this disaster has again proven that the U.S. can be a shining example to the rest of the world for its humanitarianism. While thousands of fans filled the Superdome last night to celebrate the Saint’s first NFC Championship, we cannot lose sight of our not-so-distant past, and the fact that the very same Superdome once overflowed with relocated residents of the city. Katrina taught us a number of lessons about emergency response, and it is encouraging that our nation finally has leaders in place who can manage disasters effectively.