Naked and afraid? A lack of federal backup means much work ahead

June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season, and across the country, emergency managers, community leaders, and residents are watching forecasts with a growing sense of concern. The fear is palpable—not because storms are new but because the systems communities have traditionally relied upon to help them recover are increasingly unsteady.

For architects, this moment demands something more than concern. It demands readiness. We must be prepared to stand up and respond.

I have been down this road too many times. I have walked through devastated neighborhoods in South Florida after hurricanes. I have witnessed the destruction left behind in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Dominica after Hurricane Maria. I have seen communities struggle to recover following Hurricane Harvey in Houston. I have experienced it personally in my own neighborhood after Superstorm Sandy.

The images are always different, but the lessons remain the same. Disasters expose vulnerabilities that existed long before the storm arrived. They reveal weaknesses in our buildings, infrastructure, planning systems, and policies. They show us where investment has fallen short and where communities have been left behind. Most importantly, they remind us that resilience is not something we build after a disaster. It is something we build every day before one comes along.

As architects, we understand this responsibility. It is part of our code of ethics.  

The American Institute of Architects continues to advocate for stronger federal support for communities facing increasing climate and disaster risks. We are working to ensure that programs such as FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities initiative, hazard mitigation funding, and other resilience-focused investments remain available to the communities that need them most. These programs have demonstrated their value by reducing future losses, strengthening local capacity, maintaining business continuity, and helping communities recover more quickly.

Yet regardless of what happens at the federal level, we cannot wait for someone else to act. Our profession has always been about creating solutions where others see obstacles. We design for the future. We manage risk. We help communities envision and build a better tomorrow. That work becomes even more important when uncertainty grows.

Our alignment with disaster risk reduction principles has never been more relevant. Every project we touch presents an opportunity to strengthen resilience. Every building can be designed to withstand greater shocks and stresses. Every community plan can incorporate strategies that reduce vulnerability and improve recovery.

Resilience is not a specialty within architecture. It is architecture.

That means continuing our partnership with code officials, engineers, planners, and organizations such as the International Code Council to advance stronger building codes. It means recognizing that codes are not burdens but instead are minimum standards designed to protect lives and property from Mother Nature’s increasing fury. It means using data, research, and predictive modeling to better understand future risks rather than relying solely on historical experience.

Emerging technologies also offer powerful opportunities. Digital twins, predictive analytics, and advanced modeling tools can help communities make smarter investments and better understand long-term risks. These tools allow decision-makers to move beyond reacting to disasters and toward proactively reducing risk before disasters strike.

But resilience is not only about technology and policy. It is also about people. That is why preparation matters.

This spring, AIA sent letters to every governor and state emergency management office across the country, offering the support of our members when disasters occur. We wanted leaders to know that architects stand ready to serve when communities need us most.

Our Safety Assessment Program trained members, instructors, and state disaster coordinator network extend across the nation. Together, they form a powerful resource capable of helping communities assess damage, evaluate building safety, and accelerate recovery following disasters of all kinds.

Whether responding to wildfires in the West, tornadoes in the Midwest, flooding across river communities, or hurricanes along our coasts, architects fulfill an ethical obligation that extends beyond design services. We help communities recover. We help restore confidence. We help people return to their homes, schools, workplaces, and places of worship.

That work is essential. That is our greatest value.

As we enter a decade defined by increasing climate volatility, repeated shocks and stresses will continue to test communities across the country. Recovery periods are becoming shorter because the next event often arrives before the last one is fully resolved. The cumulative impact on families, businesses, and local governments can be overwhelming.

Architecture provides something powerful in these moments. Our work creates anchors within communities. We provide hope.

The schools we design become shelters and gathering places. The healthcare facilities we create continue serving patients during emergencies. The housing we advocate for protects families from displacement. The civic buildings we envision become symbols of continuity and recovery.

These are not simply structures. They are places of stability in uncertain times.

They help remove fear. They provide confidence. They remind communities that recovery is possible and a better future is attainable.

As hurricane season begins, AIA remains committed to advocating for stronger resilience policies, supporting disaster preparedness efforts, and mobilizing architects when communities need assistance. We will continue pushing for investments that reduce risk, strengthen infrastructure, and protect lives.

But ultimately, resilience is built project by project, community by community, and day by day. That work belongs to all of us.

The storms are coming. Some we can predict, and some we cannot. Yet our profession has never been defined by the challenges we face. It has been defined by how we respond.

This season, let us be ready.

Let us lead.

Let us serve.

And let us continue building the resilient communities that the future demands.

Illya Azaroff, FAIA, is the 2026 president of AIA and the founder of +LAB Architect.