To start 1994 with a large and devastating California earthquake and a record chill across the North stirs much foreboding. Won’t Mother Nature ever let us (and our insurers, private and government) up?
This well could be the third straight year of major natural disaster. In 1992 came Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki and damage exceeding $23 billion. Bills in the billions still are coming due for 1993’s epic floods, Storm of the Century and West Coast fires.
Now this.
The California disaster and recent others ought to speed up a review of how this country copes: the precautions individuals take or should take, the adequacy of the insurance system, and the safety and assistance programs offered by government.
Perhaps the California quake will be 1994’s worst natural work. Perhaps not. The only certainty is that some day each of us may be at risk. We’ll want and need to be prepared; we’ll want and probably need help. A continuing national debate on how to deal with the natural risks that confront us is needed.
