Navigating Past Disasters: Lessons and Biases

This chapter analyzes the complexities of responding to rare disasters, using the Texas winter storm as a focal point to discuss hindsight bias in predictions and the implications of deregulation on infrastructure. It critiques human tendencies to overprepare for recent threats while neglecting the statistical probabilities of future risks, such as environmental crises and pandemics. The conversation emphasizes the need for proactive strategies and systemic reforms in healthcare and manufacturing to better equip society for unforeseen challenges.