This is a multi level solution. 

First the governmental preparation should be limited to things people cannot live without. Food, water and shelter. Developing an all inclusive package for aid would include many things not unlike a survival raft used on ocean going private boats. Survival gear. Some water, but gear also for making your own water (evaporation, distilled, or clorinated) and directions for doing so. Gear to make your own meals and some prepared meals and then directions on how to use dried food. Both of these solutions have long shelf life and could be stored by state until a disaster hits. Then dispersed and resupplied. An adequate shelter, not fancy, or a trailer, just a tent...a sturdy basic tent could be contracted out to a tent maker, asking them to keep a predetermined quantity in stock, with the promise that these will be delivered within 4 hours of the initial need. That way the stock could be rotated and not be rotting in some government storage facility.

Other needs that plague a disaster area is a lack of usable energy. Via state or federal there should be emergency alternatives available sufficient to power hospitals and aid stations. This could be solar panels, windmills or any other storable energy source held in storage, easily accessible and portable to use in a variety of circumstances and simple enough for the average Joe to set up and use. 

The hand to mouth habits of the American now leaves a immense hole in planning for an emergency. I grew up in Alaska in the 50's and 60's. My mother would store a years supply each summer and fall and when the earthquake hit in 1964, we had a years supply of rotatable food for our consumption. True much of it had been canned in jars, and was shaken to the floor and broken, but the freezer remained, and the 200 lbs of flour was still fine. We did not go hungry even one day, though we had no power, problems of water and sanitation  and some other inconveniences, we were able to survive on our own. 

A nation wide push should be made for people to store at least a months supply of food and 3 days supply of water. If there needs to be an organized effort and instructors are needed you can look to the Mormon church, they have been doing this for a century and are very willing to help instruct. 

Lastly a resource is available and untapped that could bring sanity and solutions to any emergency.  I am not sure of how many folks who lived through the great depression are still alive. My mom did and she is 83. If the others who managed that time are anything like my mom, improvising is a way of life. The old axiom, Use it up, Wear it out, Make do or do without, stems from that time, and was a mantra I heard all the time growing up. These people should be gathered and given problems and be encouraged to share their ideas. You won't find my mother on the computer, so it would have to be a physical gathering, a conference of sorts.  They can teach us so much and are a huge resource that is sitting around waiting to die. My mother was a registered nurse, and raised 7 kids in the wilds of Alaska. Believe me, she can teach anyone something and has lived it herself just to subsist. 

These are a few ideas that could aid in finding an equilibrium after a major calamity. I hope even one of these ideas can be of use to someone.

thank you for this opportunity to contribute,

Glenna Silvan