WHY do we keep building communities in natural disaster areas?

Question

There are zones where natural disasters such as flooding/tornados/hurricanes/and wildfires can be easily expected!
Is it anyone else's responsibility to "help" rebuild or the people who have chosen to live there?

I am proud that most citizens are willing to give when called upon to do so....but would it lessen the burden if we stopped populating areas of the country where natural disasters are prevelant?

Answer 1

Name one location where natural disasters do not happen?

Answer 2

I am confused, is there a part of the country in which there are not natural disasters?

West Coast: Earthquakes, Wildfires, Volcanoes
Midwest/South: Tornadoes
Southeast: Hurricanes
Northeast: Nor'easters
Rockies: Blizzards, Avalanches
Southwest: Monsoons
Hawaii: Hurricanes, Volcanoes, Earthquakes
Great Lakes Area: Lake Effect Snow

Everywhere: Floods, Wildfires

Natural Disasters are a part of living on an active planet like Earth. Extreme weather, fires, earthquakes, even volcanoes are unavoidable. People have to live somewhere, but every place people choose to live in will be prone to some kind of natural disaster.

There are 300'000 people in the United States: Where would you put them that every kind of natural disaster can be avoided?

Answer 3

A natuaral disaster can occur anywhere. There are some places that get hit more often by certain disasters. The tornado belt is also the bread basket. Yes, it gets tornadoes. However, it also has some of the best, most productive farmland in the country. It would be a waste to not inhabit this area and not provide the grain, corn, beef, etc. that feeds millions of people. I think if you really analyse areas prone to natural disaster, you'll find that they all have some major benefit that outweighs the potential for disaster.

As for rebuilding, that's what insurance is for. Charity is called upon to provide emergency services (food, water, medical care) until enough of the infrastructure can be restored for individuals to take over on their own. Complete rebuilding is done via insurance claims and private funding.

Answer 4

Because until Katrina, the US has not experienced a natural disaster that destroyed an entire city. Natural disasters have damaged American cities before, but never destroyed them, so the US never had a comparable Pompeii or Herculanium.

There is also another factor. Modern engineering. Modern engineers believe they can construct buildings and equipment that are impervious to the worst that nature can throw out. We believe we can persevere, despite nature... and if you look through human history, most of the time, we've been right in that regard.

Answer 5

Natural disasters can occur ANY place. The one mistake most people make is in thinking that the earth is a stagnant entity that doesn't change.

The ground beneath us is constantly moving, the land is constantly eroding, vegetation changes, weather can be outrageous, wildfires are a common occurance, etc. etc.

But when it comes down to it, it's about 1. Money, and 2. People wanting to live somewhere that's "pretty."

Answer 6

There are lot of 'worst in history' disaster recent years. So it is not like people have been being hit like this for every year. But it could get to a point when people say 'we can't live in this area, its too dangerous'. We just haven't got to that point yet. And it also had lot to do with community pride & identity. People still like to keep their community & tradition instead of blending into population.

Answer 7

Which states would you depopulate? Look at all of the states that get hit with tornadoes, including the one I live in?

I do however agree about flood zones. Wildfires... hmmm again, that would be tough. All of Alabama is under fire watch right now because of our drought.

Answer 8

every inch of space must be used in order to take the burden off of the government. it's really simple, it's easier to sell the space to families and if something does go wrong then it's not really up to the government to have to carry the load. this way now it's on the homeowners to make sure they pay for the insurance and carry the burden when disasters happen

Answer 9

Because we live in a nation which allows individuals to make choices like this for themselves.

Could you please suggest a region that is not affected by a natural disaster of some type?

Don't worry, Kelly, the insurance companies are killing the economy in some of these areas, by refusing to underwrite policies.

Answer 10

My guess is twofold;first, people haven't learned to respect the earth, and secondly, as long as our population continues to grow people have to live somewhere.

Of course in all fairness, natural disasters happen everywhere, you can't prevent them.

Answer 11

There is no part of the country that is immune to "natural disasters." Well, the southwestern desert, perhaps, but to move everyone there would cause catastrophic environmental damage to that ecosystem.