By late last Monday morning, they had issued an urgent warning for a “life-threatening & destructive windstorm,” raising nagging questions about the mayor’s priorities and why she did not leave Ghana sooner.

Some of the results have come later than predicted and some sooner than predicted.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, Prof Taylor said: "Triage is important, when someone is acutely unwell – the sooner you get that individual to the level of care they need, the better the outcome."

There’s been so much fire in the time I’ve been here that I sometimes think Los Angeles will sooner be destroyed by fire than by the big earthquake we’re supposed to prepare for.

“The sooner that organizations like mine know the needs, the sooner I can begin making sure it’s sourced locally.”