Why Hurricane Walls Aren’t a Lasting Solution for Climate-Whacked Cities

As climate change drives stronger hurricanes, cities are turning to reinforced barriers to protect against floodwaters, with many urban areas installing modern steel or concrete barriers, an upgrade from traditional sandbags. However, these structures face a fundamental limitation — they’re only effective against storms of moderate strength. With climate change causing hurricanes to intensify, explains Douglas McIntyre, these barriers may quickly become inadequate, requiring ongoing repair or upgrades.