The Geography of Risk

By Gilbert M Gaul,

Book cover of The Geography of Risk: Epic Storms, Rising Seas, and the Cost of America's Coasts

Book description

This century has seen the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history―but who bears the brunt of these monster storms?

Consider this: Five of the most expensive hurricanes in history have made landfall since 2005: Katrina ($160 billion), Ike ($40 billion), Sandy ($72 billion), Harvey ($125 billion), and Maria ($90 billion). With…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Geography of Risk as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The Geography of Risk gets to the heart of why the harm from climate-worsened disasters continues to grow: communities keep building in places destined to burn and flood.

Through first-hand accounts, Gaul exposes how decisions made long ago can trap people in homes and places that are unsafe. Gaul’s investigative reporting confirms what I learned in my years as a policymaker at the White House—that the best-intentioned choices can increase risk exposure exponentially.

The book lays bare how public policy all too often provides perverse incentives to encourage people to live on America’s coastlines despite the great cost to human…

Want books like The Geography of Risk?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Geography of Risk.

Browse books like The Geography of Risk

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in economics, sea level rise, and Gaul?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about economics, sea level rise, and Gaul.

Economics Explore 381 books about economics
Sea Level Rise Explore 8 books about sea level rise
Gaul Explore 16 books about Gaul