Can disasters help to improve a country's economy?

The article by Bennett suggests that the earthquake that hit Sichuan Province in China in May 2008 leaving more than 80,000 dead and causing widespread devastation has also helped the country’s economy. According to a state information centre, the funds allocated to rebuilding far outweigh the economic loss caused by the quake, enough to raise national economic growth by 0.3%. A lively e-discussion developed around this theme and is summarised in this paper.
The position of discussants can be grouped broadly into three categories.
1 People who believe that disasters are unnecessary, but unavoidable and, if tackled properly, can actually help to boost a country’s economy. Of these, some considered that gains were only short-term. (Supported mainly by academicians and researchers, and partly by economists and ecologists.)
2 People who believe disasters are a natural, necessary, and acceptable part of the mechanism maintaining the Earth’s life support system (homeostasis). (Supported mainly by ecologists and economists.)
3 People who believe disasters are an unnecessary evil, hindering human development activities, killing, destroying structures, and placing human civilization at risk. (Supported mainly by developme