NATURAL disasters, like landslides, earthquakes and tropical storms, flattened four villages in the Ampek Nagari District of West Sumatra. Although these disasterswhich took place from January to July of this yeardid not claim any lives, they devastated 450 hectares of rice paddies which were ready to be harvested. Tens of homes collapsed, schools were damaged, electricity generators and water installations were rendered inoperative, and five bri