The R Street Institute released a report on May 14 emphasizing the growing costs of extreme weather events and the potential for natural infrastructure to help reduce damages. The report notes that in 2024, there were 27 separate weather- or climate-related disasters in the United States, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion.
The increasing frequency and severity of such events have prompted communities and governments to seek ways to minimize future damage. While traditional solutions like seawalls and levees are common, the institute said these can be expensive and may disrupt ecosystems. The report advocates for greater consideration of natural infrastructure—features such as mangroves, marshes, wetlands, coral reefs, and forests—that can provide protective benefits against storms, flooding, and wildfires.
According to the institute’s findings, mangroves are able to dissipate storm surge energy significantly; one study cited found that “330 feet of mangrove trees ‘can reduce wave height by 66 percent.'” In Florida during Hurricane Irma, mangroves were estimated to have prevented $1.5 billion in damages. Other features like marshes and coral reefs also play important roles: “a mere 15 feet of marshes can reduce wave energy by half,” while coral reefs can cut wave energy by up to 97 percent.
The report also discusses how built infrastructure is sometimes less resilient than natural alternatives. For example, after Hurricane Irene hit North Carolina’s Outer Banks, about three-quarters of bulkheads needed repairs while wetlands remained unaffected. Analyses from agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers suggest that natural infrastructure projects often offer better benefit-cost ratios compared with traditional projects.
Policy recommendations include requiring government bodies to consider natural solutions when planning mitigation efforts—such as under America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018—and limiting subsidies for development in areas where it would undermine protective ecosystems. The Coastal Barrier Resources Act is highlighted as an example at the federal level.
“Civilization has always dealt with the perils of extreme weather, but recent trends show that the damage from extreme weather events is rising,” the report concludes. It stresses that minimizing this damage not only saves lives but helps control living costs.
