Is it true that man can conquer nature

We can hear that man can conquer nature on many occasions,but is it true.Everytime when I was in troblue,I'would comfort myself that I can do it,I can overcome every difficulty
But rcently,after so many people died in the earthquake,after seeing the pictures of so many homeless people,so many orphans,I can't do it anymore.
I feel so helpless,I feel that we are so small,negliglible,powerless compared with nature,Maybe we can change the world,but only in small aspects,only some superficial aspects,
As for the natural disaters,such as earthquake,taunami,we can do nothing.
So do you believe that oneday we can conquer the nature