Rebuilding after a disaster is hard. Doing so after multiple disasters on both sides of the country is harder. Trying to put things back together when there aren’t not enough materials, components, or skilled labor is another type of disaster in the making, like a recovery Hunger Games.

On the East Coast, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee are ready to begin the process of rebuilding. The damages facing Los Angeles are only starting to come into sight. And, as the Wall Street Journal reported, there aren’t enough materials, supplies, and labor to go around.

That shouldn’t be surprising. As many sources have told GlobeSt.com over the last few years, getting skilled construction help has become difficult in general. Developers and contractors can find themselves entangled in contentious scheduling, getting different subcontractors in when they are needed. As with any supply chain, manufacturers and vendors generate supply to meet projected demand. There can be some slack allowing for moderate demand increases. But when so many people, businesses, and places suddenly need vastly larger amounts of materials, supplies, appliances, and building systems, there won’t be enough to go around because it takes longer for companies to adjust their production.