802,000 join nationwide disaster drills as U.S. military participates for first time

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060901p2a00m0na016000c.html

This is what real disaster preparedness looks like - and costs like! In USA we are used to doing everything on the cheap - then we end up with debacles like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Even the response to 9/11 leaves a lot to be desired - the commission's report on that is only gathering dust with not much action having been taken on the recommendations.

Maybe California should take a lead and partner with Japan for disaster preparedness. After all, we do share the same disaster potential in form of magnitude 7 earthquakes in highly populated areas.