What was often the impact of fires or floods on home-based workers?

The impact of fires or floods on home-based workers often led to financial ruin for families. Home-based workers, who typically relied on their immediate environment and resources for their livelihood, faced dire consequences when disasters struck. Their homes often doubled as workplaces, and a fire or flood could not only destroy property but also eliminate their means of earning a living. This situation created an overwhelming financial burden, as families were left to deal with the loss of both their homes and their source of income.

In contrast, while insurance coverage might provide some level of support in the aftermath, many home-based workers lacked adequate insurance or any insurance at all. Community support could be available in some cases, but it wasn’t guaranteed and often varied based on location and community strength. Emergency government aid may have been instituted in response to disasters, but this aid was not always timely or sufficient to cover the extensive losses many families faced. Hence, financial ruin was the most likely and immediate outcome of such disasters for home-based workers.