A few years back my old home town, Calgary, was inundated by floods. I was long gone, but watching the news I saw all my old stomping grounds under water. My father had predicted this when he was City Clerk. He showed me some of the original (unrealized) plans for development of the downtown, and pointed out that the two rivers flowing through the city created a perfect flood plain. Something the builders had completely ignored.

Move that scenario anywhere in the world. In coastal Connecticut it barely has to drizzle and flood warnings are issued.

Mix in superstition and vengeful gods become the go-to explanation.