Market-Driven Solutions Will Bolster Nation’s Resilience, Keep Homes Affordable
In a recent testimony before Congress, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) challenged FEMA’s focus on stringent building codes as the primary means to enhance disaster safety, arguing that this approach could inflate housing costs unnecessarily. NAHB First Vice Chairman Buddy Hughes emphasized that homes constructed to modern codes (post-2000) already possess significant resilience against disasters such as floods, wildfires, and severe weather. He advocated for a more nuanced strategy that prioritizes effective enforcement of existing codes and allows flexibility for state and local governments to adapt codes based on regional needs, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all national standard.
Hughes urged Congress to shift focus toward retrofitting the vast majority of the nation’s housing stock, which predates 2010, as a more effective method to bolster community resilience. He proposed that true resilience encompasses not just stronger buildings but also robust infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems. Hughes called for the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act to maintain local control over code adoption processes, enabling jurisdictions to tailor codes to local conditions without undue pressure to adopt the latest versions. By fostering market-driven solutions and enhancing existing structures, Hughes believes the housing sector can achieve greater resilience while preserving affordability.