Natural disasters are good for some businesses but not for the overall economy. Personally I benefited because I was a short-term hire to adjust claims for an insurance adjusting company. Made $7,000 after expenses in just over five weeks during hurricane Harvey. Now that I understand their software, I can probably make $2,000+/week. when the next disaster hits.
But overall naturals disaster are an overall negative for the economy.
I don’t think disasters need to be an overall negative for economies. They often are, but if intelligent decisions are made, and especially using the cleared area for a newer and better way of building, then it can be a plus. I had a German friend in the 1960s. She commented, “everything is so old here in the US, because of the war we have so much that is new and modern.” And I think the German economy was in pretty good shape that decade. Considering the Puerto Rico disaster, which I am as my son and family live there, they could do what some eastern European countries did after breaking free of the Soviet system. Rebuild infrastructure, including electricity, to the modern standard. And since PR terrain is so mountainous and roads so poor, make use of micro-grids rather than continuous power lines. Glad you learned a profitable skill.