So, where exactly do we build? The west coast is on the Ring of Fire, the east coast and gulf coasts are prone to hurricanes, and everything in between is subject to blizzards, heat waves, flooding, or tornadoes.

You can build to a 50 year storm, good until you get hit with a 200 year storm. You can build to a 200 year storm, but good luck finding enough people who can afford to live in an area with a 200 year infrastructure.

If it gets knocked down, you build it better. You update the building codes, and make sure they're enforced (Northridge and Ismit quakes). And, you make sure the insured pool is large enough to tolerate regional disasters.