Bubka. Wow, thanks. That Rambam is fascinating. Is this mitzvah asei included under tochacha, tehuvah or is it a separate mitzvah? It seems like teshuvah.
in summary (not a translation), for the only english readers, the Rambam says:
A) It is a mitzvah to cry and trumpet when a tzarah/disater comes on the public.(he brings a pasuk)
B)This is for repentance, to inform the public that it was due to their bad actions that this occurred. (he brings a pasuk for that)
C) If they don’t do this and instead say this is the natural way of the world, i.e. was happenstance etc.. This is wickedness and causes people to stick to their evil ways. This will cause additional, other disasters to come. (He brings a passuk to support that).