Floods as a National Security Concern

Floods aren’t like terrorist groups or rival economic powers. Typically, we think of those as national security threats. Instead, floods are natural disasters that can, and do, wreak havoc, causing numerous deaths and potentially crippling the economy by devastating significant urban areas.

Since the dawn of time, floods have sculpted landscapes and shaped coastlines, sometimes to the detriment of human existence. They are relentless forces of nature, and with storms becoming more frequent and severe lately, we really need to take this threat seriously.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency indicates that floods are the most significant natural disaster in the U.S. The Senate Joint Economic Committee has estimated that annual flood-related costs range from about $17.98 billion to $496 billion, which could be over 1% of the GDP.

If we look at recent history, we can see that many of the most destructive natural disasters were primarily due to flooding, especially as hurricanes have intensified.

• Hurricane Katrina (2005): Estimated cost $200.3 billion; 1,833 lives lost.

• Hurricane Harvey (2017): Estimated cost $160 billion; 89 lives lost.

• Hurricane Ian (2022): Estimated cost $119.6 billion; 152 lives lost.

• Hurricane Maria (2017): Estimated cost $115.2 billion; 2,981 lives lost.

• Superstorm Sandy (2012): Estimated cost $88.5 billion; 159 lives lost.

It’s particularly unsettling that many of these disasters have occurred since the beginning of the century.

Sadly, floods are often caught in political disputes, which complicates efforts aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and maintaining the economic health of metropolitan areas vulnerable to flooding.

No matter the reasons behind the rising frequency and severity of flood-related storms, the damage they cause continues largely unchecked.

Modern flood defenses, like flood barriers, are engineered to cope with such disasters. Portable barriers can be set up quickly to protect vital access points, and some even activate automatically as floodwaters approach, requiring no human input.

These measures are in place at important locations such as hospitals, airports, schools, and in towns and cities near rivers and coastlines. They’ve been effective, saving millions in damages while preserving essential services during and after floods.

According to the National Institute of Architectural Science, public investments aimed at flood mitigation since 1995 have cost $27 billion but have saved $160 billion in damages, which breaks down to a savings of $6 for every dollar spent.

We have the capabilities to protect our vital economic centers and military installations, but there seems to be no momentum for necessary federal actions to address the issue.

Recognizing floods as a national security threat could pave the way for concrete protective measures for critical defense assets. For instance, we could establish a multi-year strategy to secure military bases against flooding with federal funding set aside specifically for that purpose.

As a nation, we cannot keep using federal resources to rebuild critical infrastructures without factoring in future flooding risks. This cycle of catastrophic losses and costly recoveries seems endless. The real question isn’t whether we can afford to invest in flood mitigation, but rather if we can afford not to prioritize it.

Identifying floods as a national security risk is just the first step. Without pushing for federal action, we risk perpetuating a cycle of disasters and recovery that threatens our economic foundations.