The United States can save $6 in future disaster costs for every $1 spent on hazard mitigation, according to a National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) report released shortly after the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration declared 2017 the costliest year on record for weather and climate disasters. Mitigation strategies include demolishing flood-prone buildings, adding hurricane shutters and tornado-safe rooms and strengthening structural components for earthquake resistance.
Additionally, the report found that every $1 invested in hazard mitigation measures to exceed International Building Code and International Residential Code requirements could result in a savings of $4. NIBS estimates implementing these mitigation strategies could prevent 600 deaths and one million nonfatal injuries.
