Pictured here is the aftermath of a tornado that struck Fultondale, Ala. (Credit: Phillip/Adobe Stock)
As severe weather events become more frequent and destructive, the challenge of protecting our communities has never been greater.
From devastating hurricanes to unprecedented wildfires, the stakes are higher than ever. With over 30 years in the insurance industry, I’ve witnessed the profound impact these disasters have on our neighborhoods and the immense struggle of rebuilding in their wake.
Extreme weather events like heat waves, large storms, landslides and more are becoming more frequent and intense: The U.S. has already experienced at least 24 confirmed weather disaster events through October with losses exceeding $1 billion each.
Over the last five years the U.S. has averaged 20.4 billion-dollar disasters per year; a significant jump considering the combined average of 15.7 billion-dollar disasters per year from the 1980s to 2000s.
The recent blockbuster film Twisters highlights the devastating impact of tornadoes. In the film, a storm chaser remarks that their tornado-mapping technology can 'change the world.'
That’s not Hollywood magic. In many ways it is quickly becoming reality. This type of sophisticated technology to better predict storms is well in development.
Researchers from Google and Nvidia have also developed weather prediction models that combine AI and machine learning with conventional techniques, potentially helping scientists take global weather projections and more accurately apply them at local scales.
These developments could usher in a new era of exact weather forecasting that could save thousands of lives and millions of dollars.
Strengthening building codes for a safer future
While the tremendous strides in the development of weather-prediction technology are inspiring, we won’t realize its full life and property saving potential if we haven’t also taken steps to improve the resiliency of our building infrastructure.
As it stands now, building codes are largely outdated with each state creating its own set of standards and guidelines. There are no national building codes. This fragmentation leads to significant variation across states, with some maintaining outdated codes while others adopt modern standards.
On one end, states like Virginia and Florida have made significant strides in adopting modern building codes. Virginia recently topped a ranking for building code adoption, while Florida has consistently enforced strong codes due to its vulnerability to hurricanes.
On the other end, states like Delaware have remained at the bottom of those same rankings for four years and lacks a statewide building code, leaving communities vulnerable to disasters.
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