Aging U.S. Infrastructure Faces New Threats from Climate Change’s Extreme Weather Events

Extreme weather events, like Hurricane Beryl’s 12 inches of rain in Houston within five hours, expose the vulnerabilities of America’s outdated infrastructure. Designed 50 years ago for milder conditions, many dams and bridges can’t handle today’s intense storms. The New York subway system, over 100 years old in parts, frequently floods during violent storms, highlighting the urgent need for repairs. Despite the pressing need, funding solutions like the congestion tax in New York have been dismissed, leaving the city unprepared for future floods and hurricanes. With predictions of even more severe hurricanes, possibly Category 6, the urgency to modernize infrastructure is greater than ever.