In Washington, there’s a persistent myth that investing in disaster mitigation means choosing between environmental protection and fiscal responsibility, but in reality, the smartest solutions deliver both.
Natural disasters are costly events, taking a severe financial and mental toll on the estimated 3.1 million Americans displaced each year. Given bipartisan interest in affordability, it’s time to start thinking across the aisle and looking at what really drives up costs for Americans in disaster-prone areas.
2025 marked the third costliest year on record for billion-dollar natural disasters. As families tighten their budgets and scrutinize every expense, state and local governments are confronting many of the same financial pressures. The cost of recovery is mounting and impacting local economies, where disaster spending can upend budgets and force policymakers to make painful choices.
Communities have had to divert funds
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