Earthquake protection. One Maritime Plaza, San Francisco was constructed to withstand large earthquakes. Credit: VARDS UZVARDS

Natural disaster, like war, can be the father of things. In the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, a tsunami warning system was installed in a region that had hitherto been neglected. And in 2005, Hurricane Katrina triggered unprecedented numbers of scientific investigations into the dynamics of tropical cyclones.

A burst of activity is a common reaction to natural hazards: the shock of destruction provides a rare impetus for investment in preventive measures. The moment must be seized for the two recent natural catastrophes in Asia: the tropical cyclone Nargis that struck land on 2 May and led to devastation in Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta; and the Wenchuan earthquake that destroyed lives and buildings in the Sichuan province of central China just days later on 12 May. On page 485 and 488, two commentaries discuss ways of reducing the risk of repeat events.

Both disasters hit the developing world, and both events were unforeseen, at least at this magnitude. Myanmar seldom lies in the path of destructive tropical cyclones, and the risk of an earthquake occurring in Wenchuan County — the epicentre of the Sichuan earthquake — was thought to be relatively low (GSA Today 18, 4–11; 2008). So although the possibility of both hazards was known, the slight probability of their occurrence ensured awareness remained low.

In both cases, human factors exacerbated the consequences. The population of the Irrawaddy delta was unaware that a severe tropical cyclone and a storm surge of immense strength were about to strike the coast. The ensuing disaster reinforces how important the efficient communication of warnings is. It is not enough if some of the regional authorities know about it, the people in the affected areas must be made aware of what lies ahead. But in the developing world, communication infrastructure is a problem. Mobile phone networks hold promise for the future, but there are still places on Earth where not enough people possess a mobile phone to make warnings through these networks efficient.

In some areas of Sichuan province, 80% of buildings were destroyed. In particular, 7,000 school rooms collapsed — all the more tragic given China's one-child policy. The extent of the destruction is probably witness not only to the strength of the earthquake, but also to the lack of adequate and strictly enforced building regulations in the region.

But it is not only the developing world that suffers unnecessarily in natural hazards. Hurricane Katrina revealed huge gaps in US disaster preparedness. Moreover, mobility — obviously a difficult issue in rural areas of developing countries — turned out to be just as big a problem in a country heavily reliant on individual transport by the automobile. What works best for the advancement of personal freedom (for those who can afford it) does not necessarily work best for mass evacuation: not everyone possesses a car, and evacuating millions of people in individual vehicles easily clogs the roads.

By definition, natural hazards take us by surprise: a place where devastation is neither rare nor unexpected would not be inhabited. The next large earthquake will occur elsewhere and the next cyclone will take a different path. Although the same disaster is highly unlikely to strike twice, preventive measures put in place in the aftermath of devastation tend to be tailored to the past. But even the best preventive efforts can only mitigate the impacts of natural hazards.

The most efficient way of reducing the risk is often to go along with the forces of nature, rather than trying to tame them. It can be more sensible to loose land to the sea than to attempt to secure a coastline against erosion with the brute force of modern technology. And it can be better to build low buildings with bamboo, rather than tall ones in reinforced concrete that may or may not withstand a violent quake.

Increasingly, population pressure and economic realities demand that people live in regions that are in danger of natural hazards, such as coastal areas. If they do, they must prepare against damage to life and property as best they can. The Earth sciences can help to identify the risks of natural hazards, but a leap forward in disaster protection requires a substantial investment of public money.

When battling against the forces of nature, the Judo principle of using one's opponent's strength against Her should be taken to heart. Nature has struck hard in Myanmar and China. Now is the time to build better defences.