MSNBC story says:


The casualty toll was so low because people left town or went to  
shelters after authorities posted warnings. Residents and officials  
were mindful of the damage Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans and  
Mississippi last August, said Ben Creagh, a spokesman for Queensland  
state Department of Emergency Services.

....

“Everyone here studied Katrina and took a lot of messages away, a lot  
of lessons at the expense of the poor old Yanks,” Creagh said. “There  
was absolutely no complacency at the planning level at all, and I  
think that shows. ... Good planning, a bit of luck — we’ve dodged a  
bullet.”

(The link to the story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11915471/)

I am relieved to hear no one was killed and am glad to hear they  
benefited from "the poor old Yanks'" mistakes with Hurricanes Katrina  
and Rita, but am saddened to hear of so much property damage.   I  
hope you, dear Rayna, are OK.

Kat


On 20 Mar 2006, at 12:39, Meir Weiss wrote:

> Cyclone leaves thousands homeless in Australia
> A cyclone that ripped across parts of the northeast Australian  
> state of
> Queensland on Sunday has left thousands homeless, local government  
> officials
> said Monday. F U L L   S T O R Y
>
> http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/20/aus-cyclone- 
> devastation.html
>
> WE ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU
>
> CONTACT ASAP