Sometimes having an emergency management plan doesn't matter

Communities, such as Petersburg, Virginia, have been devasted by tornadoes, dashing their revitalization hopes--or at least destroying irreplaceable and historic built environment assets. Ironically, communities do get an economic benefit post-disaster from property insurance payouts and rebuilding efforts.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Ridgway, Illinois, before and after photos. Before photos from Panoramio, after photo from AP. (News article.)

St. Joseph's Catholic Church is left in ruins after a severe storm hit in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, in in Ridgway, Ill. Several deaths have been reported in Harrisburg and left the city's medical center scrambling to treat an influx of injured, the hospital's top administrator said. (AP Photo/The Southern Illinoisan, Paul Newton)