Hurricane season in the United States is between June 1 and November 30 each year. There have been devastating storms throughout American history, killing thousands and causing billions of dollars in damages, with the number and severity of storms varying over time. In May 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an “above normal” hurricane season. Researchers are increasingly indicating that hurricanes are also becoming stronger – one factor in a storms overall impact.
On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the mainland United States. It would become the deadliest American hurricane since Maria in 2017, and the deadliest U.S. mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005. As of publishing, the death toll from Hurricane Helene is over 230 people.
Hurricane seasons in recent years have regularly resulted in over $100 billion in annual damages, peaking in 2017, at over $280 billion. Most of this destruction is to commercial and residential properties from flooding, but damage to roads, transmission lines, bridges, and more also adds up to billions yearly. These types of infrastructure damages can also ripple as slower recovery costs that reduce aid and result in compounded economic harm and costs. As a result of Hurricane Helene, Interstate 40 in North Carolina is projected to take many months to repair.
Some of these damages are nearly impossible to avoid. Asheville, North Carolina was once called a ‘climate haven’, but experienced severe flooding after Helene that swept away hundreds of properties. However, in areas where extreme events cause damage more frequently, proven strategies can prepare the most critical infrastructure against the worst.
Florida, a state with an average elevation of a mere 100 feet, has extensive experience with flooding, and in 2021 created the Resilient Florida Program. The program is meant to identify areas with weak infrastructure and make upgrades to prevent, mitigate, or adapt to future storms. It is designed to create a coordinated approach to flooding and storms through grants and inspections to local governments and businesses. Florida Governor Ron Desantis also recently awarded funding to increase the storage capacity of construction materials for infrastructure projects and response. Severe hurricanes have at times created a backlog of construction projects and repairs. DeSantis is also known for pre-staging fuel and utility linemen vehicles and workers ahead of natural disasters.
This underscores a critical aspect of cost and how infrastructure plays into a storm’s overall impact. Strong infrastructure can prevent damage. Weak infrastructure can lead to extensive damage, including the cost to repair the infrastructure itself. And on top of this, strong preparation and swift action can mitigate costs, even if a strong storm makes a direct hit. Preparation can be made well in advance or immediately before a storm, and should anticipate the storm immediately ahead and potential future incidents.
We must rebuild roads and other infrastructure so that it will not fail again next time. Aii has discussed on this topic on multiple occasions in recent years, but little change has materialized. Designing and building stronger structures is more expensive, but ultimately will save money in the long run in places where extreme weather or flooding is common. Resilient infrastructure will improve safety for those living in vulnerable areas while also protecting against economic harm. Officials have a duty to protect citizens through policy, which includes responsible management of infrastructure and public investments.
To make roads more flood-resilient, better drainage systems, stronger foundations, and permeable pavement can also help significantly, as well as raising them off the ground. Transmission lines can be made stronger by reinforcing the foundations or moving them underground in the most vulnerable areas. Dozens of companies are working on designing more flood-resilient buildings. Strategies to protect homes are also becoming more advanced.
The development of flood-resistant infrastructure can help reduce the enormous economic toll caused by hurricanes each year. Florida already has some of the highest home insurance prices in the nation, and many places in the state are becoming uninsurable. Governments have less control over damage to private properties, but it can mandate that new construction follow more prudent building codes.
However, for the most part there is very little incentive for local governments to invest into more resilient infrastructure, which is more expensive than a regular rebuild. Infrastructure that is designed to persevere through severe storms and disasters should be prioritized. Government aid may help communities rebuild, but there is little to no extra funding for higher-quality construction. FEMA operates the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, but the focus is primarily on building infrastructure where there are inadequacies for basic needs, and the budget is only about $1 billion nationwide.
Policy should be incentivizing innovation and the improvement of damaged infrastructure, not simply rebuilding it the same as before. With stronger bridges, roads, power lines, and buildings, we can insulate against the most drastic effects of extreme weather. Hurricanes and flooding cost the federal and state governments billions, most of which is spent after the hurricanes already hit. Governments keep spending billions in taxpayer dollars to help those in need, but we fail to make permanent changes that can prevent the damage from being so severe next time. It’s like putting a bandaid on an annual injury that really needs surgery.
Government policy should also reflect the economically-informed thinking of engineers, not merely policymakers themselves. Infrastructure safety should be beyond ideology and partisan politics. By financing resilient infrastructure before the disaster, we can save both money and lives. As a nation, there needs to be a reflection on the process we go through every year. Hurricanes will likely always be a dangerous and destructive event, but we should come out the other side confident in our infrastructure and safety.
After the recent devastation of hurricanes Helene and closely following Milton, it is time for federal, state, and local governments to invest more in stronger disaster-resistant infrastructure.
Written by Owen Rogers, Public Policy Associate
The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) is an independent, national research and educational organization. An innovative think tank, Aii explores the intersection of economics, law, and public policy in the areas of climate, damage prevention, energy, infrastructure, innovation, technology, and transportation.