The ability to adapt depends on the rate of change.

I would also add the ability to adapt depends on the flexibility of the person or people adapting. Chance also plays a role in the ability to adapt (i.e. living in New Orleans vs. Galveston when Katrina hit).

Adapatability requires rapid cycling through the observe-orient-decide-act (OODA) loop. Further, change requires a reservoir of personal energy which can only be established by de-investing in the current paradigm. It takes energy to observe, energy to decide, and energy to act - particularly when resistance is encountered.