NOT designing for catastrophes is the biggest kind of error we can make in designing anything. And there is a lot of wisdom to be gained from learning from the 'type 1 errors' of people who have come before us ....
One important aspect of permaculture design is to design for catastrophe. You want your design to lessen the chance of a fire, flood, or hurricane destroying your home and landscape. ... we can include certain elements in our design to lessen the impact of these disasters.
Design for Catastrophe, in Permaculture Activist
Article by Phil Williams, Designing for Catastrophe
From the book "The Basics of Permaculture Design"
Designing for catastrophe specifically aims to minimise the effects of disaster, & to maximise recovery & rehabilitation once immediate danger has passed. Those who have the freedom to choose their location wisely can, with good design, minimise the effects of bush-fire, flood, cyclones, & other violent manifestations of natural forces, so that rapid recovery is possible, & permanent re-location unnecessary. Even if you are forced to live in a vulnerable location, good design & forward planning, both as a household, & as a community, will considerably reduce the impact of such events.
When we acknowledge the possibility of catastrophe, we face the fact that life is a risky business. This demands courage, but it also restores the sense of challenge & adventure that makes everyday living so exciting that we no longer need to over-stimulate ourselves by indulging in the 'buzz' of energy-guzzling sports & environmentally damaging leisure activities.