Public Lecture

Will we ever learn? Upending high-risk development decisions for better disaster resilience

The Urban Institute
June 2, 2026
As a nation we continue to build, and rebuild, housing and infrastructure in hazardous places, and even headline-grabbing disasters don’t necessarily lead to better decision-making. Despite an ever-growing library of tools aimed at promoting disaster resilience, insights and resources have not translated to better land-use decisions in many communities. In this presentation, Rumbach will unpack the seeming paradox between an increasing awareness of climate threats and the continuation of high-risk development practices. He will explore theories and evidence on why communities don’t make better decisions before, and after, disasters, and point to opportunities to improve outcomes through better research and policymaking. Register on Zoom: Here