Did natural disasters affect population density growth in US counties?

This paper examines the long-run effects of natural disasters on population density growth across US counties during the period of 1960-2000. Detailed data for measuring the number and intensity of three types of major natural disasters (earthquake, tornado, and hurricane) are collected and incorporated into the empirical models. We do not find any significant adverse long-run growth effects of natural disasters. Weak evidence of minor tornadoes being positively correlated to growth is provided. Results also indicate that disasters have negligible indirect effects on county population density growth through impacting the county characteristics.