The only reason the bank became alerted was that our bank officer was on a two-week vacation, so someone else took the call.

FORBES: A Snitch In Time Can Save Employers a Lot of Money

Skipping that two-week vacation, cutting down on the amount you spend dining out, and saving your next raise or bonus, are also simple methods of adding to your emergency fund.

FORBES: Building An Emergency Fund

And politicians in India, often cursed by their constituents for flocking to disasters to show their concern, compare rather well with a US president whose first big gesture after Katrina's damage became evident is to cut a five-week vacation short by two days to give the matter his full attention.

BBC: NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | Lessons in dealing with disaster