Research
Federal Grants deliver major resilience benefits
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) study analyzes federal mitigation grant programs and shows that adopting the latest building codes saves communities $11 per $1 invested by reducing damage from natural hazards like floods, wind, earthquakes, and wildland-urban interface fires. It highlights how public sector investment in hazard mitigation, including programs from FEMA, HUD, and EDA, generates significant long-term savings by reducing disaster damage and strengthening community resilience.
beyond the payoff: the economic value of resilience investment
This 2025 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber Foundation, and Allstate shows that investing in disaster preparedness and resilience isn't just smart, it pays off. It finds that communities that underinvest today could face up to $33 in lost future economic activity for every $1 not spent on resilience, as severe weather and natural hazards become more frequent and costly. The research models multiple disaster scenarios and highlights how higher resilience investment protects jobs, stabilizes local economies, and reduces long-term costs after events like wildfires, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and droughts. It also outlines key strategies, or "Levers of Resilience," that policymakers and community leaders can use to strengthen preparedness and accelerate recovery.
White Paper on Fire Resistance of Concrete Structures
According to a 2014 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) white paper, prepared by global experts and commissioned to support fire-resistant design innovation, reinforced concrete structures inherently resist fire due to their low thermal conductivity, non-combustibility, and slower heat penetration into internal reinforcement. The report outlines priority research for real-world testing and performance-based modeling of concrete, including validation of fire resilience at scale, all aligned with Building with Resilience's vision of more durable, longer-lasting communities.
Key Insights from CSHub's Resilience Research
The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub) offers compelling research supporting the adoption of noncombustible construction materials to enhance resilience against natural hazards, including wildfires.
Underestimated Hazard Risks: CSHub emphasizes that the risks posed by natural disasters, such as wildfires and extreme heat, are often underestimated. Investing in stronger, noncombustible construction is a critical strategy to mitigate these risks.
Community-Scale Resilience Assessment: CSHub is developing tools to assess the economic vulnerability of structures within communities, considering factors like building density and configuration. This research aims to quantify and visualize the vulnerability of neighborhoods, guiding investments in resilient construction methods.
Building & Neighborhood-Specific Fragility Assessment: By creating building-specific fragility curves, CSHub's research facilitates a performance-based approach to resilience. This includes evaluating the performance of building components such as windows, siding, doors, and roofs under various hazards.
Policy Implications:
CSHub's findings underscore the importance of integrating noncombustible materials, like concrete and steel, into building codes and construction practices, especially in wildfire-prone areas. By adopting these materials, communities can enhance their resilience, reduce potential damage, and improve long-term sustainability.
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