Rebuilding

FederalStateLocal

Policymakers should provide support to areas that have suffered, or are at high risk for, damage from extreme weather events. They should: 

  • prioritize funding for repairing homes damaged by extreme events. Repairs should ensure that damaged homes do not pose health risks to older adults. 
  • provide incentives for existing buildings to be fortified. Fortification techniques include improving elevation and drainage, as well as replacing building components to mitigate risk. 
  • strengthen public infrastructure to mitigate the risk to the community as a whole. 

In areas of severe risk for damage from extreme weather events, policymakers should consider limiting new construction, providing incentives to rebuild elsewhere after an incident, or both. If they do so, they must take steps to mitigate any negative impacts of those policy limitations on existing residents, including the isolation of households who remain in the community.