Looking at the population distribution of the United States, one sees a clear pattern of density along coastal areas.
Yet hurricanes (and typhoons or monsoons, depending on which hemisphere you live on) are an annual reality. Some years there are so many hurricanes the National Weather Service goes straight through the naming process, A to Z, and begins again. Sometimes they seem to be less frequent or causing less damage, and many people wonder whether the diminishing ozone layer could be a contributing factor (or just that human lives are so short we don't witness 100 year cycles).
The emotional havoc is hard to grasp or behold, and the financial impacts are mind-boggling. Our hearts and support go out to fellow citizens who are affected in these types of natural disasters (be they floods, earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, and even snow storms).
While it's easy to understand the allure of coastal living -- sea breezes, temperate climes, sand and generally laid-back cultures -- it isn't clear why the federal government provides subsidized insurance coverage in these areas through a FEMA program, incenting risky investment in fragile environments.
Even someone who is dense understands: There's no stopping Mother Nature.