Steve Balogh, PhD
Hurricanes Helene and Helene and Milton swept through the Southeastern US and left a trail of destruction behind them. Electrical linesmen, maintenance and construction crews are pouring into the area to begin the rebuilding process — paid for by federal grants, insurance payments, and out of pocket expenditures. To many, this economic activity seems a boon to local communities reeling from the storm. However, when we look at this destruction and rebuilding from a systems perspective, we can see that things are not always what they seem.