The focus of this Question is to guide owners and landlords to think about how future climate events may impact critical building systems, and to plan accordingly. It is meant to go beyond day-to-day emergency preparedness practices.

Resilient buildings reduce vulnerability to climate-related hazards; maintain and enhance healthy, livable spaces for occupants; and mitigate carbon emissions. Investments in building infrastructure protect against damage and losses and reduce insurance premiums. The owner or landlord should determine which elements are important to review, since every building and situation is different.

Components and systems could include elements related to buildings, site, infrastructure, programs and services, operations, health and safety, or other categories that the owner or landlord deems important for the property. Each element may be reviewed to determine its relative level of exposure and sensitivity to relevant hazards, as well as current ability to adapt to them. In combination, these criteria can be used to assess a building element’s vulnerability to climate hazards.