Disaster Research vs. Hollywood disaster movies: "The Day After Tomorrow."

Most disaster experts claim that when faced with trying situations such as natural disasters, most people react calmly and do their best to help other people in need when they are able, once the initial shock passes. These researches would have us believe that the majority of people band together and forget race, ethnic, economic, and social boundaries when faced with devastation. The media, however, tells us that the majority of people panic, and engage …

…FEMA and the National Guard. If an event the likes of which occurred in "The Day After Tomorrow" were to actually happen today, I think that it's clear our nation would be thrown into mass panic, looting, and crime. This, unfortunately, was demonstrated where the worst of the hurricane devastation occurred, in New Orleans, LA. There was very little law enforcement in the city and absolutely no outside help, thus people engaged in mob rule.