Preparing for the Next One

We’re in the midst of a climate emergency. But for most people, this reality is hard to accept, until a catastrophic storm like Hurricane Sandy or Katrina hits. For those of us in the storm path, the most recent disaster lingers as a dramatic reminder of our need to change what we build and where we build it (and when to let nature do what nature does best). As we search for a way forward, we must consider the connected world we live in, where our screens regularly flash unsettling images of snowstorms in deserts, tsunamis chewing up coastal communities, and fires burning out of control in water-starved woods.

In this issue we asked a fundamental question: How do we prepare for the storms of the future? (Knowing that there will be a next “Big One.” And another after that.) We looked at storm surge barriers, as well as nature- and design-based approaches to rising sea levels and extreme storms. We asked designers who have been working on these issues to send us projects that address our uncertain future. What follows are water management schemes, resilient building types, targeted communications, and humane resource delivery systems. All of them represent the serious work of a connected design community. Can we afford to marginalize them?

A World in Crisis
The $5.9 Billion Question
Come High Water
Ready Solutions
The Adapters