No one really expects the average family to be preppers who are ready for months of holocaust and siege. However, it's not unreasonable to expect people to heed the warnings of government agencies and weather reports to at least make basic preparations and follow evacuation notices. It seems that most people don't bother doing that.
Hurricanes give at least two days notice but usually three or four. From the looks of some of the pictures, some people didn't even bother to bring in their lawn furniture from outside. Since people were running out of gas, food, water, and diapers on day two of the storm, they apparently didn't even gas up or stock up enough to get themselves thru the first crucial 72 hours much less a week or two. The number of people who were caught by flooding didn't have to happen. They should have evacuated. Did the authorities use door-to-door evacuation notification? Were evacuation routes marked and monitored? Were tow trucks pre-positioned to move wrecks out of the way? Were there enough shelters, including ones with handicap facilities and pet-friendly areas?
One family that lost their children in the flooding did not evacuate when told to. Why? Because during a previous evacuation, their house had been looted. The mother said they would stay this time and fight off looters. Does that make sense? Endanger your children to the flood and armed looters just to save your possessions? Well, they lost that bet, sadly.
Of course, there will be casualties and hardship after a storm but with proper preparation by authorities and the public those can be greatly reduced. Somehow, it just doesn't seem to happen.
We should always be prepared to take care of ourselves for a minimum of three days. Don't wait for the government to tell you to keep on hand bottled water, non-perishable easy to prepare foods, products for personal hygiene, routine meds, clean up and first aid, cash (doesn't have to be a lot), and gas in the tank. Have at least two escape routes planned, keep your phones charged, and designate a meet-up place. Keep your important papers together in one easy-to-grab container. Get to know your neighbors and account for each other.
Never assume that the government will take care of everything. They cannot and will not.
It doesn't have to be hurricane prep but prep for ice storms, earthquakes, wildfire, riots, tornadoes, closing of roads and bridges, or other things that can happen.
Maybe not everyone can do these things but the more who do, the better. That leaves more resources available for those who truly need them.
