Editorial companion

What stands out

Almost 130,000 utility customers on Hawaii's Big Island lost power when Hurricane Lala brushed the coast, even though the storm was later downgraded to a tropical storm. That simple sequence, fast wind, downed trees, widespread outages, is the economic story behind the headline: weather events that look minor on the map still translate into repair bills, lost tourist nights, and insurance claims. For investors who pay attention to balance sheets, these are the small, frequent shocks that nudge utilities, insurers, and local governments toward higher spending on resilience.