Laura Gwyn and Jason F. McLennan of the global design firm Perkins&Will write about the recent hurricanes affecting the South and how the architecture and planning communities can prepare for our new normal.
Well before Hurricane Helene, the allure of living on or near the water has drawn hundreds of thousands of people to coastal and river towns in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and the Carolinas. For decades, scientists have sounded alarms about the dangerous impact of human-induced climate change. Sadly, these warnings have gone unheeded, leading to unspeakable loss and damage as seen in the last week in cities throughout the South. Florida, which is receiving a one-two punch from both hurricanes Helene and Milton, has just incured unthinkable damage.
