Natural disasters

A direct hit would have been bad news for a world already struggling without enough fertilizer.

Fires are unpredictable. They can spark anywhere, grow to any size and move in any direction, says Caroline Mimbs Nyce of The Atlantic.

"You can pay kind of a lot to get us where we need to be on the front end of a disaster...or you could pay twice or three times as much to rebuild and recover," said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

More extreme weather means more damage to homes and property — a challenge for insurers, as well as owners.

There are more disasters than Congress budgets for. And the federal fiscal year coincides with peak hurricane and wildfire season.

The upfront cost is high and the cost-benefit calculation depends and the region, experts say.

Rebuilding has been slowed by the pandemic, fears about future storms and the pain of lost lives.

And government response often falls short of meeting the needs of those hit by storms.

Devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian has put pressure on the families of many U.S.-based students.

Poverty can make it that much harder when a natural disaster strikes.