One thing is certain about natural disasters, they’re going to happen, we just don’t know when. And, partly because we’re expanding our urban footprint and partly because our society is so much more dependent on costly infrastructure, when they strike, it’s also a financial disaster.

For some. And a windfall for others.

Bloomberg coined the phrase ‘Disaster Industrial Complex’ back in 2025, looking at the business of protecting against and rebuilding from floods, hurricanes, and other climate-related disasters. It’s big business, and growing fast.

But it goes beyond just climate. With more mansions built on beachfront properties, more seaside and mountain resorts, more tourist attractions, and more critical businesses like datacenters and energy networks, we’re much more vulnerable to tsunamis, solar flares, volcanic ash clouds and the like. And examples of huge solar farms being totally destroyed in hours by hailstorms are no longer exceptional.

Our smart society is just so much more fragile, and worth protecting.

Which is worth investing in. Advance warning systems, rapid response services, and of course the inevitable clean-up and reconstruction required after a big disaster. It’s an increasingly lucrative business that makes traditional industries look staid by comparison. Rapid recovery and restoration after something like a massive hurricane can add significant points to regional economic performance.

As we face a future of uncertain planetary evolution, coupled with ever increasing human impact on land use and the adaptation of natural systems like rivers and dams, we can expect the risk of disasters to increase.

And that’s big business. You can bank on it.