I'd have to say that if your point was invoking disaster like Hurricane Katrina and implying that we are hopelessly unprepared to push a review of the councils tree policies, then yes, I do believe I missed it.

Somehow, I failed to spot it in there mixed in with all the false comparisons and irrelevancies. My apologies.

But the amount of resources directed at relief effort is pretty much spot on to what is known as an appropriate response activity. The appropriate activity at this time is mainly involved in minimising and clearing property damage to prevent unsafe living conditions and major disruption to the city. If "the big one" comes, escalations of relief efforts and higher level responses would of course be more appropriate. That is, bugger the houses -evacuate.

There are plans in place at every level including one directed at the household level. There will always be hiccups, but the appropriate authorities and delegations and response actions should not be in doubt.

Council Household plan:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:1022810136:pc=PC_5059
Brisbane city council disaster plan:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:1022810136:pc=PC_2942
State disaster management group:
http://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/

Somehow, I think the councils tree policy is a low priority for them at the moment.

But, to be fair I didn't ask exactly what you find disastrous about the current policy, and you didn't tell us either.