States of Innovation: Natural Solutions for Natural Disasters

Stat: $850 billion: The damage caused by flood-related disasters in the U.S. since 2000.

Story: Floods are the costliest natural disasters in the United States, but there are ways to prepare for the storms ahead. In this episode of our “States of Innovation” season, we hear from Laura Lightbody, who directs Pew’s work to better prepare communities for floods, about how states such as Texas and South Carolina are reducing their risks through innovative solutions. We also speak with South Carolina state Representative G. Murrell Smith Jr. and the Coastal Conservation League’s Laura Cantral about the state’s newly founded Office of Resilience and efforts to minimize the effect of flooding on taxpayers, communities, and the environment.

Related resources:

Flood-Prepared Communities

What is Flood Mitigation?

Mitigation Matters: Policy Solutions to Reduce Local Flood Risk

Texas Rainy Day Fund Lays Groundwork for Disaster Recovery Savings

New South Carolina Law Aims to Boost Flood Resiliency and Mitigation

The Coastal Conservation League