" Destroy any amount of physical capital , but leave behind a critical number of knowledgeable human beings whose brains still house the culture and technology of a dynamic economy , and the physical capital will tend to reemerge almost spontaneously " — George Horwich , Purdue University Even in disasters with few physical injuries , a large portion of the economic cost may be public health effects ( approximately a tenth , in the case of the summer 2007 floods in the UK ) . The economic costs of disruption to children 's education are significant . Mental health issues may be triggered or exacerbated by the distress suffered during the disaster . Health advice on minimizing psychosocial stress has been given for disasters . While public health costs may contribute to economic activity and GDP growth , a growth in demand for medical or educational assistance is unlikely to be seen as beneficial
summer 2007 floods in the UK
2007 United Kingdom floods
Parable of the broken window