Disaster recovery in the United States is stuck in a costly, flawed loop. Every year, wildfires, hurricanes and floods destroy thousands of homes — only for them to be rebuilt using the same vulnerable materials. This cycle of destruction and reconstruction is predictable but preventable. It’s time for a paradigm shift.

The increasing severity of natural disasters has exposed the weaknesses of conventional home construction. In 2023 alone, California lost more than 400,000 acres to wildfires, causing billions in damage and displacing countless residents. Yet, many of the homes being rebuilt use the same flammable materials that contributed to their destruction. This pattern repeats across the country, from flood-prone regions to hurricane-ravaged coastlines. Instead of reconstructing the past, we must future-proof homes with materials designed to withstand these disasters.

WEATHERING THE DISASTERS

Cold-formed steel framing has long been a st