As for natural catastrophes... again, we live in a fallen world... this was not the original intention of our lives...
This too will end when judgement comes upon this world and His Kingdom is established here as in heaven...
If there is no moral and unchanging law... there is no evil...
At that point right/wrong is purely subjective and ever changing...
So if there is no God... there is no real evil... only transient and subjective wrongs...
You are side-stepping the question!
The entire essay dwells solely upon the suffering in the World attributable to Man's Fallen State, and claims that, for Free Will to be able to exist, the possibility of Man choosing unwisely (= evil) had to be allowed. Understood!
However, the essay entirely elides the fact that a great deal of Human suffering is attributable to things over which we have absolutely no control, like severe natural catastrophes. Rather, it focuses only on sinful action causing Human suffering.
Why should Free Will necessitate natural catastrophes?
Free Will could exist even in a World entirely devoid of natural catastrophes.
Regards,