“I Could Live Simpler” Floods and Fires Make Americans Rethink Their Love Affair with Stuff

Cris Sgrott-Wheedleton, a professional organizer in Tysons Corner, Va., has noticed a higher call volume at her office since the spate of natural disasters. “I think the coverage has affected people. People are ready to begin the process. It reminds them to think, ‘What do I have in my house and how would I gather those things and put them in my car and leave?’ ” she says.