Resiliency and Pre-Disaster Mitigation:
Investments that Benefit American Taxpayers
The SmarterSafer Coalition represents a diverse makeup of conservation and environmental groups, taxpayer-focused organizations, insurance and reinsurance interests, and housing advocates. Current policies surrounding extreme weather events have negative consequences for all Americans, regardless of where in the country they live. The below information from our final paper spotlights the impacts natural disasters have on communities, the environment, and the economy. The data presented shows the economic burdens that taxpayers face due to the amount of post-disaster government spending on natural disasters, including numerous references to factual, nonpartisan sources that provide statistics on future climate outlook,
government spending on disaster recovery efforts, and the benefits of employing pre-disaster mitigation and resiliency measures. Accordingly, SmarterSafer provides recommendations focused on utilizing strategies that emphasize pre-disaster mitigation and climate resilience strategies. These proposed solutions will not only benefit taxpayers, but also help to address
broader challenges surrounding climate change.
Defining Weather and Climate
SmarterSafer provides definitions to distinguish the terms “weather” and “climate.” We note that weather is a short-term observation of atmospheric conditions in a specific period overtime, while the accumulation of weather patterns overtime defines climate. This distinction is important as temperatures in the U.S. increase, causing coastal cities to face increasing dangers due to rising sea levels.
Financial Stress from Extreme Weather Patterns and Events
Statistics indicate a staggering increase in government spending on post-disaster recovery. Data shows the amount spent on natural disasters has more than quintupled since the 1980s, and the consequences of climate change have the potential to cost the world economy an estimated $178 trillion dollars by the year 2070. These exponential costs have direct negative consequences to American taxpayers, as well as the global economy.
Financial Stress from Extreme Weather Patterns and Events
Statistics indicate a staggering increase in government spending on post-disaster recovery. Data shows the amount spent on natural disasters has more than quintupled since the 1980s, and the consequences of climate change have the potential to cost the world economy an estimated $178 trillion dollars by the year 2070. These exponential costs have direct negative consequences to American taxpayers, as well as the global economy.
Implications for Taxpayers
The compiled evidence details government spending on post-disaster recovery and its direct impact on the pockets of Americans. SmarterSafer calls attention to how, in recent years, the amount of emergency disaster relief funding has increased beyond the rolling average and cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Data indicates this number will only continue to grow as the frequency and severity of natural disasters increase.
Disaster recovery affects every aspect of the U.S. economy, including financial risk to the federal government. For example, if proactive steps are not taken, billions of taxpayer dollars may need to be spent on post-disaster recovery efforts in military installations due to outdated infrastructure. Overall, the country’s current infrastructure was not built to withstand the current risks from climate change and is therefore vulnerable to more severe natural disasters. Data clearly show that every $1 invested in pre-disaster mitigation saves up to $13 in federal spending, and this paper underscores potential nature-based solution projects that have the potential to save American taxpayers billions of dollars.
Conservation, Recreation, and the Evolving Climate
Natural disasters greatly harm conservation efforts. SmarterSafer highlights potential policy solutions to support the hunting, fishing, wildlife, and forestry sectors of the U.S. economy, including the need for Congressional action as natural disasters increase in frequency and severity. We applaud Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Commitment to America plan that included provisions for pre-disaster mitigation and resiliency. SmarterSafer also thoroughly endorses long-term reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as a cost-saving measure.
Looking Ahead
American households face natural disasters that not only affect our communities physically, but also financially. SmarterSafer underscores the need for Congress to be proactive in efforts to combat climate change and natural disasters by investing in and incentivizing pre-disaster mitigation, expediting aid in an equitable manner, and promoting public-private partnerships to offset risk to the taxpayer.