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time. While the nearby rural communities are no-doubt willing to assist, the idea of the few supporting the many is not a practical one. Conversely, the economy of a thriving city can easily support the relatively small influx that a displaced rural population represents.

By the very same token, the humanitarian aid provided by the world goes farther when fewer people are affected. A billion dollars worth of aid split between one million urban refugees amounts to a mere thousand dollars per capita. When a person has lost home and livelihood, that is of limited help. On the other hand, the same billion, divided amongst ten thousand refugees is one hundred thousand per capita - enough to start getting lives back on track.

Recovery is also linked to rebuilding. Cities are highly developed areas, with intricacies of glass, concrete and steel spanning upwards and outwards in a dense superstructure. Travel and communications networks interlace utilities and buildings - all of which takes a great deal of effort to maintain, let alone rebuild. When a city is devastated by hurricane, reparations are extremely expense and lengthy. Rural areas, by contrast, are primarily croplands or pastures. Homes may be destroyed, but they are far fewer and less complex structures than skyscrapers and factories - much more easily rebuilt, both in terms of speed and money. So long as the topsoil is not lost, crops can be replanted. Grasses grow back of their own accord, or new pastures can be found.

With all things considered, rural areas are better able to withstand and recover from hurricanes. It is an all around better choice to "doom" the rural residents than those of the city, and make no mistake - if the ability to save the city exists and is not taken, then the choice has been made to "doom" the city residents. Once the decision to direct the hurricane is made, then the second step must be to commit the resources to helping the people who will be affected. The spared city has great resources available to help their rural neighbors who sacrificed for them. The world has shown itself time and again to be ready to help hurricane victims. With all humanity willing to help, it makes excellent sense to minimize the help that is required, maximizes the impact it will have.

Learn more about this author, Ernest Capraro.
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