Meet 16 Inspiring Communities That Bounced Back From Devastating Natural Disasters

Stories of hope after the storm

Whether they’re expected or not, extreme weather events and earthquakes can lead to devastating loss of life and have long-term impact on the infrastructures and economies of the places they hit. But they also often reveal strength and resilience in the face of destruction, and many communities have bounced back thanks to their sheer determination and spirit.

Click through this gallery to discover the inspiring stories of cities, countries and communities that bounced back from the world's worst weather...

Houston, Texas, USA

Trillions of gallons of water poured down on the Texas coast in August 2017 when Hurricane Harvey hit, and Houston was among the worst affected places. At one point, a third of the city was underwater, residents were stranded on flooded freeways and homes were flattened. Causing an estimated $125bn in damage, Harvey is one of the costliest hurricanes ever to hit the mainland US.

Houston, Texas, USA

Recovery aid and flood risk reduction operations are ongoing to prevent such devastation happening again, and the home of Space Center Houston has proven resilient in the face of such damage. The downtown, surrounded by parks and cycle paths, remains a shining beacon of sleek skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, including several hotels that have opened since the storm.

Japan

A magnitude-9.0 earthquake shook northeastern Japan in March 2011 and caused a huge tsunami that devastated coastal areas including the Tohoku region, where three nuclear power reactors failed and leaked radiation. It remains the fourth largest earthquake ever recorded, and the worst in Japan’s history. The official number of people confirmed dead or missing is around 18,500, the majority of whom drowned due to the tsunami.

Japan

By 2015, nearly all of the debris had been removed and the building of extensive (and controversial) seawalls to help guard against future disasters was underway. In some areas, locals offered tours showing visitors how the region recovered and telling stories about how people survived against all odds.

British Virgin Islands

Hurricane Irma struck the Caribbean and southeastern US in September 2017, killing an estimated 129 people in total. The British Virgin Islands were among the worst-hit areas. Winds reaching speeds up to a staggering 180 miles per hour tore through the tropical island chain, ripping roofs from buildings and stripping bark from trees.

British Virgin Islands

The idyllic chain of more than 50 islands – marketed as ‘nature’s little secrets’ – has an economy heavily reliant on tourism. Efforts to recover, rebuild and attract visitors back were swift. Within 18 months, the majority of ports and marinas reopened, sailing charter companies were back in business and new hotels were planned. Exciting projects included the installation of Beyond the Reef. This artificial reef located off Great Dog Island was created from three light aircraft that were damaged in the hurricane and transformed into metal sharks by local artists, before being sunk into the sea in December 2019. 

Ellicott City, Maryland, USA

Severe rainstorms and flash floods battered Ellicott City in July 2016, killing two people and causing an estimated $22.4m in damage, plus more in lost tourism revenue. The Baltimore suburb had just edged its way towards recovery when storms hit again in May 2018, drowning Main Street and tearing homes apart.

Ellicott City, Maryland, USA

Somehow the city managed to bounce back again and restore buildings and businesses to their former glory. The welcome center reopened in August 2018, and resorts and hotels including Turf Valley Resort, which helped shelter people during the storm, were repaired.

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

New Orleans was battered by Hurricane Katrina when it hit as a Category 3 storm in August 2005. An estimated 1,500 people were killed in Louisiana and more than $125bn worth of damage was inflicted. Much of the worst devastation occurred in the aftermath, when the city’s levees failed, flooding 80% of the city. Many homes were destroyed and people fled, some never to return. 

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New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

By 2012, the population had returned to 76% of what it was before Katrina, and the city’s resilient spirit and determination played a huge role in helping it to rebuild. Today, the Big Easy has more than bounced back, with visitor numbers rising from 3.7 million in 2006 to 18.51 million in 2018. The post-Katrina city has also seen neighborhoods such as Bywater thriving with new independent businesses.

Putumayo, Colombia

At least 300 people were killed when torrential rains in Putumayo province in southwest Colombia caused rivers to burst their banks, leading to severe flooding and mudslides that all but buried this rainforest town in April 2017. Hundreds of homes were quickly rebuilt and a series of flood prevention measures put in place.

Putumayo, Colombia

The town is surrounded by mountains and ringed by rain, cloud and oak forests, while Fin del Mundo waterfall is among the top attractions. It’s also home to the conservation area Santuario de Flora Plantas Medicinales Orito Ingi-Ande, between the Amazon and the Andes.

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City was hit by two earthquakes in September 2017, killing more than 300 people (including in other parts of central Mexico) and razing buildings to the ground. Shelters were set up around the city to provide food and medicine, while recovery and reconstruction efforts were swift.

Mexico City, Mexico

The city was quick to resume normal life too, with monuments, hotels and museums – including the Frida Kahlo Museum and the Palacio de Bellas Artes – reopened after being inspected for structural damage. And there have been new developments too, as a luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel opened in the financial district in 2021.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico was hit by a double whammy of storms in September 2017, with Hurricanes Irma and Maria tearing through the Caribbean island within a fortnight. The latter was the most devastating storm to hit the country for more than 80 years, with reports placing the death toll at more than 4,600 people.

Puerto Rico

The US territory remains vulnerable to extreme conditions, with a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hitting in January 2020. Yet its recovery has been impressive, with trails and waterfalls reopening in lush areas including El Yunque National Forest. The capital San Juan – whose old town is surrounded by forts and lined with candy-hued buildings – is back to its colorful best.

Sri Lanka

Heavy monsoon rains in May 2017 led to swollen rivers and mudslides that swept over homes and killed at least 200 people. This came a year after the country had suffered landslides that completely buried villages. The Kalutara, Matara and Ratnapura districts were the hardest hit, though damage was widespread.

Sri Lanka

The country has proven resilient to disaster, bouncing back time and time again from both natural disasters and those caused by humans. Ratnapura, among the areas to be most affected by the floods, has rebounded as a gateway for popular attractions including Udawalawe National Park, roamed by elephants, and Bopath Ella Falls.

Chennai, India

More than 300 people were killed when a depression formed over the Bay of Bengal in November 2015, followed by heavy rains and severe flooding. Chennai’s streets and buildings were drenched in water up to chest height, while many homes, businesses and cars were destroyed or swept away. Floods have hit again since, though not to the same extent.

Chennai, India

The city, usually a popular travel destination with 17th-century Fort St George and ornate Kapaleeshwarar Temple, is known as 'the Gateway to South India' and swiftly welcomed visitors again once waters had receded. Authorities created booklets with advice and emergency contacts in the event of heavy rainfall, while restored wetlands in the city’s Sholinganallur area have attracted birdlife. It’s hoped they will also help to absorb water and lessen the impact of floods.

New Jersey, USA

Hurricane Sandy battered parts of the Caribbean and affected 24 US states in October and November 2012 – the storm was responsible for almost 150 deaths and caused an estimated $70.2bn of damage too. New York and New Jersey suffered some of the most severe damage. Sandy had reached wind speeds of 80 miles per hour when it hit New Jersey, tearing through homes and destroying boardwalks and amusement parks like those at Seaside Heights, which was wiped out by the storm.

New Jersey, USA

The damaged roller coaster at Seaside Heights, crumpled and toppling into the sea, became an iconic image of the damage caused by 'Superstorm Sandy.' It also became a symbol of triumph over adversity when a replacement opened, along with a new Ferris wheel, five years later. The state also rebuilt its boardwalks, restoring the Jersey Shore to its former glory.

Kathmandu, Nepal

A staggering 9,000 people died (with many more injured) and more than 600,000 structures were destroyed as a result of the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that shook Nepal’s capital to its core in April 2015. The earthquake, which reached parts of China, India and Bangladesh, crumbled homes and shattered temples, and also caused an avalanche on Mount Everest. It was Nepal’s worst natural disaster in 80 years.

Kathmandu, Nepal

Aid and rescue efforts were swift. The rubble was cleared off the roads within a year, and businesses began reopening. By five years on life had largely returned to normal and structures were mostly rebuilt. UNESCO is still working with the government to restore hundreds of temples, palaces and museums damaged by the earthquake.

The Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Tropical Cyclone Debbie threatened to completely wipe out the Whitsundays – 74 island jewels scattered in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef – in March 2017. The cyclone battered the Queensland coast, passing over the islands and causing significant damage, but narrowly avoiding destroying them completely. It also left reefs severely damaged.

The Whitsunday Islands, Australia

By April 2017, however, Tourism Whitsundays declared the region open for business, with sailing and snorkelling trips operating again. The islands are famous for their glistening white beaches, including Whitehaven, considered one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of sand.  New experiences and resorts include the lavish Reefsuites, an underwater hotel room attached to a pontoon, were opened too.

Pakistan

In the summer of 2022, the heaviest rains in Pakistan for over a century flooded huge areas of the country, displacing 7.9 million people, destroying 4.4 million acres of crops and killing over 1,600 people. More than one million homes, 269 bridges and over 41,600 miles of roads were destroyed, and 15% of the country’s population (33 million people) were affected.

Pakistan

After the flood waters receded, the Pakistan Army launched nationwide rescue operations and carried aid to remote parts of the country. NGOs and welfare organizations also provided victims with basic aid, food and shelter. The focus has now turned to replacing the temporary infrastructure put in place after the floods and rebuilding many of the hotels and restaurants that lined the beautiful rivers here.

Southeastern Turkey and Syria

On February 6, 2023 a series of massive earthquakes rocked southeastern Turkey and Syria, flattening towns and cities and killing over 55,000 people across both countries. The epicenter of the biggest earthquake was near Gaziantep, Turkey’s sixth biggest city that's home to a famous Roman castle that was severely damaged by the quake.

Southeastern Turkey and Syria

In response the Turkish government announced an ambitious plan to build 488,000 homes and replace crucial infrastructure in the affected region as quickly as possible. The Ministry of Culture also pledged to restore damaged cultural treasures across the 11 quake-affected provinces, including Gaziantep Castle. In the meantime, Gaziantep’s renowned Zeugma Mosaic Museum, home to the famous Gypsy Girl mosaic (pictured), escaped unscathed and remains open to visitors.

Maui, Hawaii, USA

In August 2023 devastating wildfires swept the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing a hundred people and wiping out the historic town of Lahaina. Hawaii Governor Josh Green called the fires the "largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history" and said that 80% of Lahaina was "gone." Maui’s oldest living tree, a 150-year-old Banyan, was also badly charred by the fire.

Maui, Hawaii, USA

Six months after the fires Maui was officially declared 'open for business' by authorities, although recovery has been slow. The County of Maui created the Maui Recovers initiative to aid the island’s redevelopment. A multimillion-dollar fund is offering West Maui businesses recovery grants. And a new campaign called Makaukau Maui (Maui is Ready) released in March 2024 is actively encouraging tourists to return to enjoy all that the island has to offer, especially its magical beaches.

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