Answer:
Despite Zeitoun's competence, his home sustains damage.
Explanation:
In this excerpt, we are reminded of the astonishing power of nature. We know, from reading the story, that Zeitoun has been dealing with the destruction that nature has caused due to the hurricane. Zeitoun has been very capable and competent. Nevertheless, despite his actions, his house sustains damage. This character vs. nature conflict reminds us of the enormous power of nature.