As a Hurricane Katrina and Rita survivor, and who entire family lives in SoCAL, both are tragic, but the two do not compare. Katrina wiped out the whole gulf region from Beaumont, Texas to Mobile, Alabama. And if that wasn't enough, Rita came behind and finished it off. Roads were impassible for days following Katrina. In New Orleans it took weeks for the water to receed. Folks could not return for months following the storm even if they wanted to.

Larger evacuation? Might want to re-think that one.

Got out faster? In Katrina, those who could and who wanted to did so by Sunday night.

Less complaining? About what? The fact that help was not available? The fact that the residence who had insurance were getting hosed by their insurers?

Looting? I guess it depends on who is telling the story, and who's doing the "looting." ... I'm sorry, "surviving." I get so confused!

However, it would be absolutely negligent for California not to learn something from the events of Hurricane Katrina.