Many lives could have been saved; many can yet be saved

Little can be done to minimize the destruction caused by an unpredictable earthquake such as that which happened beneath the Indian Ocean Sunday, but the deaths of thousands of people thousands of miles away were tragic. Many died needlessly because of a fatal flaw in that part of the world, the absence of an effective system to warn of an approaching tsunami.
Indonesia, closest to the quake, was the hardest hit, with an estimated death toll of 27,000 as of last night. There would have been little time to issue warnings there. But the tsunamis didn't reach Sri Lanka, where 20,000 are dead or missing, for two hours, and India, where 11,000 died, for three hours. The waves didn't crash ashore at Somalia, where hundreds died, until nearly six hours after the earthquake.
Future goal
In the months and years ahead, Asian nations will be working together to develop a warning system, which requires sensors, satellite surveillance and an on-land system for spreading the alarm. That, perhaps, is the only good thing that will come out of Sunday's events.
The earthquake, the strongest in 40 years and one of the strongest in the last century, coupled with tsunamis that devastated coastlines in a dozen countries, could be the most costly natural disaster in history. The lives lost will surely exceed 60,000 and property damage will exceed $15 billion, based on early estimates.
The young were particularly susceptible to the ravages of the sea and it is estimated that a third of the dead are children. Some coastal communities will have virtually lost a generation.
Present need
And while the tragedy has given Indian Ocean nations an opportunity to work together in the future on a warning system, it has given the rest of the world an immediate opportunity to respond.
Nations are rushing aid to the area by airplanes and ships. Every nation should do its share, according to its ability to respond. Without food, medical supplies and safe drinking water, thousands more will die in the immediate future.
Even with strong international aid it will take a decade to replace the lost infrastructure. Roads and railroads were washed away by 50-foot waves. Without international assistance, it would take generations to rebuild.
Financing the long-term rebuilding will be the job of governments and international agencies. Individuals, however, can play a huge role in supporting the emergency response.
Dozens of agencies are accepting donations. Making one is as easy as contacting a local Red Cross or Salvation Army office or by going on line to find such agencies as CARE, HOPE, Save the Children, UNICEF and others. Churches, synagogues, mosques and temples will be able to direct donations to specific religious relief agencies.
The loss from this earthquake is so immense and the response will be so universal, that anyone who wants to donate to the relief effort should be able to find an avenue for doing so within minutes.