I’ve spent over 15 years stepping into homes after disasters – homes flooded, ripped apart by fire, mould creeping into every corner. But lately, it feels like those disasters are no longer rare deviations. They’re happening more often, in places and ways people didn’t expect.
Here are four sharp observations I’ve made from the front lines lately, plus what that means for families trying to keep safe and sane.
1. What Was Once Unthinkable Is Now Expected
Take the 8.8-magnitude quake near Kamchatka this July, shaking buildings and triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific. Or Bali, where more than 385 mm of rain in 24 hours caused its worst flooding in over a decade, forcing hundreds from their homes.
Most recently, southern France has been hit hard by torrential rains, with violent flooding sweeping away cars, cutting off power, and isolating entire communities.
And closer to home, I personally felt the impact of Cyclone Alfred in Queensland. It was the first cyclone to hit the state in many years – not on the same scale as the monster storms the US faces every season, but still a reminder that we are not immune. Seeing how quickly conditions escalated, and how unprepared many people were, drove home just how vulnerable communities here can be.
These aren’t “once in a lifetime” events for those living through them. They’re wake-up calls. In my field, people ask more often now: “If this happened here, what would we lose?”
2. Damage Isn’t Just Physical Anymore
It’s easy to see broken walls, soaked floors, or destroyed roofs. What’s harder is seeing the emotional cracks:
- Children terrified by the sound of every rainstorm or cyclone warning.
- Parents replaying floods or storm surges in their heads, wondering what they could’ve done differently.
- Hopelessness when insurance doesn’t cover damage or when documentation is missing.
I’ve seen families breathe a sigh of relief when the water recedes – only to realise the long, confusing, and stressful recovery process has only just begun. The emotional fallout often outlasts the physical.
3. Resilience Is Becoming Non-Optional
These disasters are teaching us that safety and resilience can’t be “extras.” They need to be built in.
Some things I see working:
- Local communities organising before disasters – neighbours checking in, setting up evacuation plans.
- Simple practices – safe document storage, backups, knowing escape routes – making the difference when every minute counts.
- Families who talk openly about “what ifs” being less shocked when “what if” becomes real.
After Cyclone Alfred, for example, I saw how quickly community support kicked in – neighbours checking on each other, sharing resources, and helping clean up. Those connections mattered just as much as any official response.
4. The Cost of Being Unprepared Keeps Getting Higher
The economic cost of disasters is staggering. Africa alone loses an estimated USD $12.7 billion each year in infrastructure damage from floods, storms, and earthquakes. Globally, the numbers are rising – but behind the statistics are the real human costs: lives disrupted, children missing school, communities displaced, and families left struggling with anxiety about the future.
Even here in Australia, the clean-up and repair bills after storms like Alfred climb quickly. The real price is measured in stress, lost time, and delayed recovery for families and communities.
What Families Should Do Now – Practical Moves
You don’t have to live in a disaster zone to benefit from thinking ahead. From what I see, these moves make a difference:
- Secure critical documents and backups.
- Know your local hazards (flood zones, cyclone tracks, bushfire risk).
- Maintain reliable communications (how will you contact family if networks are down?).
- Keep an emergency kit ready.
- Build community connections – it’s your first line of help when systems fail.
Final Thought
Disasters aren’t becoming more frequent because someone wants to scare you. They’re becoming more frequent because many of the risk factors – from weather extremes to seismic activity – are changing.
I’m not saying we have to live in fear. What I am saying is this: being aware, being prepared, and being resilient is no longer “just in case” – it’s part of everyday life. And if my years of working in this field (and my own experience with Cyclone Alfred) have taught me anything, it’s that the families who prepare ahead of time recover far better – physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Author Bio
Matthew Brunes is a triple Master IICRC-certified disaster restoration specialist with over 15 years of experience helping families recover from floods, fires, cyclones, and mould. He is the Director of Reztor Restoration, based in Australia.
