'Ameliorate' in the context of the sentence means to improve. The government's provision of money to the hurricane-damaged town was intended to improve the situation, assisting in recovery and repair.
The word 'ameliorate' is used in the sentence to describe the government's efforts to improve the post-hurricane conditions in the town. In this context, 'ameliorate' means to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; hence, to improve the situation. The government provided money to aid the recovery and repair efforts to the damages inflicted by the hurricane.
The large-scale destruction and aftermath of similar occurrences such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ike reflect the importance and necessity of such government assistance. These actions are aimed to provide immediate relief as well as to facilitate long-term recovery and rebuilding initiatives within the affected communities.
This further emphasizes the significance of emergency management agencies, like FEMA, which are instated to respond and manage disaster situations, despite criticisms over their efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, in the context of this sentence, the synonym for 'ameliorate' is option 2. improve.
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