Sean Keyes, CEO of Sutcliffe, a leading civil and structural engineering firm told GB News: “The potential scale of devastation to Florida’s infrastructure is alarming, with critical roads, bridges and public utilities vulnerable to extensive, irreparable damages, with recovery efforts challenging and costly.
“Hurricane Milton is a once in a century storm and could arguably be one of the most costly in history, with its widespread devastation and damages to infrastructure predicted to exceed £50bn, with some estimates placing the costs at over £175bn.
“These costs will not only strain local and state resources but will also impact the community’s economy for years to come, raising the urgency for the development of more resilient infrastructure.
“Many homes in Florida are built using relatively inexpensive wooden frames instead of more resilient materials like concrete or brick, leaving them more susceptible to extreme damage and collapse due to their lightweight properties.
“In the UK, we are all too familiar with the challenges of meeting housing construction targets, but in Florida the economic impact of a category 4 hurricane could leave the state facing a recovery effort that could take decades to realise.
“Proactive measures and investment is crucial for safeguarding communities and ensuring disaster preparedness.”
