A one-two punch.

Byline: The Register-Guard

The extent of damage done by Hurricane Rita can't yet be known, but even before landfall it was apparent that the wounds caused by her sister Katrina would be reopened. The Gulf Coast is enduring the second blow of a one-two punch, and the end of hurricane season is still six weeks away.

Rita will compound the cost of rebuilding after Katrina, already estimated in the $200 billion range. President Bush and Congress have declared themselves willing to pay these costs, while rejecting any suggestion that new taxes or a deferral of tax cuts would be needed to pay them. When expenses associated with Rita are added to the tab, a review of the nation's fiscal position will be in order. The generation that commits itself to making the Gulf Coast better than it was before the storms should not pass the bill to generations that follow.

Some of Katrina's lessons have already been absorbed. The local confusion and federal indifference that characterized the immediate response to Katrina were less in evidence - though the difficulties of evacuating a major city such as Houston quickly became apparent. Evacuation plans that depend primarily on private transportation will need to be improved, perhaps though a staging system that calls upon people in particular ZIP codes to leave in a predetermined order.

People fortunate enough to live in parts of the country where hurricanes don't blow should not ignore these lessons. As Rita approached the Gulf Coast, Mount St. Helens began rumbling - reminding Northwesterners that they inhabit a geologically active region where the risk of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis is real. The same chaos and destruction occurring there could happen here.

As the hurricanes have demonstrated, public agencies' preparedness plans may be inadequate, poorly implemented or simply overwhelmed. Those who can prepare themselves to endure several days without basic public services - food, water, electricity, medical care - should not wait.

People should also learn which of their neighbors may need assistance in case of disaster. Information on how to become prepared is available from Lane County's Community Emergency Response Team, www.cert-eugene.com or 682-5665.

Americans' response to the Katrina disaster has been heartfelt and generous. Texans, in particular, distinguished themselves by offering shelter and assistance to their neighbors. That response will have to be sustained and increased due to Rita, and many Texans' kindness will need to be repaid.

The extent of damage from this second blow won't be known for hours or days, but those affected should know that their fellow citizens stand ready to help.