--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The other big lesson from Katrina is that…" description: "\"The other big lesson from Katrina is that it pays to be prepared. But it's also very difficult to stay prepared because the longer you go between event..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-e-besser-54610_be-prepared_the-other-big-lesson-from-katrina-is-tha_2134836.jpg" --- # The other big lesson from Katrina is that it pays to be… ![“The other big lesson from Katrina is that it pays to be prepared. But it's also very difficult to stay prepared because the longer you go between events the more you'll see complacency.” quote by Richard E. Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-e-besser-54610_be-prepared_the-other-big-lesson-from-katrina-is-tha_2134836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-e-besser-54610_be-prepared_the-other-big-lesson-from-katrina-is-tha_2134836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-e-besser-54610_be-prepared_the-other-big-lesson-from-katrina-is-tha_2134836.jpg) > “The other big lesson from Katrina is that it pays to be prepared. But it's also very difficult to stay prepared because the longer you go between events the more you'll see complacency.” [Richard E. Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-besser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preparedness saves lives, yet complacency grows when crises are rare. **In simple terms:** Being ready helps, but complacency creeps in over time. Key Takeaway Maintain vigilance even in calm periods. Themes preparedness complacency risk management Mood cautious reflective Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - emergency planning - personal finance - community drills - business continuity Key Concepts disaster response human behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep preparedness habits alive? - What triggers complacency in your routine? A Different Perspective Complacency can undermine even the best plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Katrina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/katrina/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) ## Related quotes > [It pays to be prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/it-pays-to-be-prepared/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [I'm very prepared for difficult moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/i-m-very-prepared-for-difficult-moments/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [I've just learned that you can't take this game for granted. You have to stay professional and stay focused and stay prepared to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-ve-just-learned-that-you-can-t-take-this-game-for-granted-you-have/) [O. J. 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Do not be scared to wield it, for the battles You face give no allowances for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ufuoma-apoki/you-have-the-power-inside-of-you-do-not-be-scared-to-wield-it-for-the/) Ufuoma Apoki > [I don't know what's going to happen in the future; I just know this: I'm going to continue to give my best effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/i-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-happen-in-the-future-i-just-know-this-i/) [Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/) > [Sometimes you know about a job four months in advance. Sometimes you know about a job four days in advance. It's all different, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/sometimes-you-know-about-a-job-four-months-in-advance-sometimes-you/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [As George Bush's infamous for once saying by mistake, he said, "Mother Nature is a terrorist." 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We truly were all Americans, and Trent Lott came through for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/we-were-not-republicans-or-democrats-during-katrina-we-truly-were-all/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [With Katrina, it's almost like the sequel that doesn't live up to the original. It's certainly a shocking event and a tragedy, but somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/with-katrina-it-s-almost-like-the-sequel-that-doesn-t-live-up-to-the/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) ## More by Richard E. Besser > [It's critically important that people trust you during a public health crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-besser/it-s-critically-important-that-people-trust-you-during-a-public/) [Richard E. 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