The Issue
The frequency and severity of catastrophes in the United States is on the rise. This dangerous trend illustrates the need for our country to invest in the resilience of the structures in which we live and work and the lifeline infrastructure that supports our everyday lives. Growing climate risk is forcing policymakers and emergency management experts to reevaluate our national mitigation approach. The last year alone saw a record-breaking hurricane season, the most active wildfire year on record across the west, and the most billion-dollar disaster events in U.S. history. To combat the disasters associated with these hazards, we must think more resiliently and build stronger.
Our Recommendations
We must help our communities rebuild and recover while providing them with the necessary resources to prevent future destruction. It’s time to stop the endless cycle of rebuilding to the same, outdated standards after each disaster. Studies have shown that for every dollar invested in mitigation, as much as eleven dollars can be saved. Mitigation saves lives, property, taxpayer money, and the environment. the environment. We must break the inextricably connected cycle of destruction, loss of life, and federal waste.
