Safe, healthy, and resilient homes

As hurricanes and storms grow more frequent and destructive, an increasing number of states and communities across the country are mobilizing to make homes and neighborhoods more storm resilient. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisiana enacted its first mandatory statewide building code, improving homes to better withstand hurricane-force winds and flooding. Along the East Coast, the city of Hoboken, New Jersey, upgraded stormwater infrastructure after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 by creating green spaces that absorb water and by installing underground cisterns and pumps in parks. In Alabama, homes built or retrofitted to Fortified standards reduced damage and insurance claims following Hurricane Sally in 2020.  

Despite advances such as these in many parts of the country, resilience remains uneven, and communities with limited resources continue to face disproportionate risk, highlighting the urgent need for structural solutions.

On September 17, Brookings Metro and Economic Architecture will spotlight resilient construction, community-driven design, and forward-looking infrastructure that anchors stronger, more equitable communities with a panel of leaders from the Alabama Resilience Council, Rebuild by Design, and Resources for the Future. The panelists will discuss how the widespread adoption of structural solutions can ensure the resilience of homes and neighborhoods across the nation and share actionable approaches—from state-level reforms to community-driven innovation to private-sector models—that strengthen infrastructure, homes, and neighborhoods while advancing human-centered, equitable resilience.  

Join us for the third event in the Safe, Healthy, and Resilient Homes series. Viewers can submit questions via email to [email protected].