Disaster preparedness and response is on everyone's mind. By looking at the experiences with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we can learn key best practices for response, restoration and reconstruction.

Disasters have four stages: the emergency stage, including pre-event evacuation; short-term restoration; mid-term reconstruction; and long-term major betterment. These stages can and do overlap. Due to the combined effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the extent of destruction, emergency feeding and shelter will continue for months, possibly years; restoration work on repairing urban services is under way and some evacuees have already returned.

But millions more evacuees remain dislocated in several dozen cities. Emergency shelters run by the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and church relief organizations exist throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Florida and many other states.

The transportation industry plays a key role in relief efforts. The extent of donations from the transportation industry in response to Katrina and Rita offers a unique glimpse into the sheer magnitude of these events.

Working through its professional association, the American Trucking Association (ATA), the industry donated millions of dollars for emergency shelters. As impressive as these donations are, the transportation industry responded by donating what they do best — providing the logistics and movement of goods. Working through the FEMA disaster response operations center, millions of tons of goods that had been donated by others were moved to the supply distribution centers and emergency shelters. Examples compiled from reports to the ATA: