It was!
I also wonder what affect climate change will have on all this as well... I've seen predictions of a billion climate refugees over the next 2 decades as extreme weather events like floods and drought force people to move. Maybe everyone's job will be rebuilding out of flood plains and where fresh water sources are available?
Possibly. There is a lot of disruption coming in terms of the environment and this might save us economically. Though we will be screwed as a species! :D