The Bahamas and the Caribbean Have Withstood Hurricanes for Centuries

Long before the Spanish and the Americans arrived in California, wildfires regularly swept across the land. The indigenous natives, having built their homes of lightweight materials, would simply pick them up and step aside until the flames passed. Today, such wildfires destroy millions and billions of dollars worth of damage. Lives are lost. The difference is in the way we occupy and use the land. I suspect that the same is true in the Bahamas (and virtually everywhere else) We occupy and use the islands differently. Not only are the homes subject to damage, but also provide ammunition for the storm's winds to hurl at those caught in its path. Why do we build homes that way. If you're going to live in the danger zone, build for it. I've seen many demonstrations of hurricane-proof homes. Why aren't we building them? Here in California, we live with the threat of earthquakes and we have building codes to minimize the risk. Why are the Bahamians doing the same?