I agree with Chris. I don't think it's arrogance or hubris, but a rather a common misconception (among urban/suburban Americans, anyway) that Mother Nature is either harmless (think of all of the people who feed bears in National Parks), or any harm can be eliminated by technology ('I've got my cell phone, what's the problem??"....). Because so few of us live in close proximity to the true forces and whims of Nature anymore, the tendency to romanticize Nature or not see it as a real threat is understandable. Wrong and ultimately dangerous, but understandable. From one who has survived more than a dozen hurricanes, I have no such illusions. Google up a few pictures of the results of Hurricane Camille and you'll see why.

.....CLIFF
"Out there, son, there's two kinds of critters: those looking for lunch, and those looking to not be lunch."