The reason why so many 'disasterous' events are so bad is because people don't wisely live in harmony with their environment.
If you live in a floodplain, expect to get water damage. Live in a heavily forested area, and expect to get some fire damage. Fire is one of God's ways of allowing some species of evergreens to germinate cause the fire allows the pinecones to open properly. (When I find a link for that I will post it...but I know that is true)
'Disasters' are how God cleans out some areas for new growth.
I admit that we often cause our own problems, but God has made the Earth to be wonderfully resilient.
James
