​How Operational Access Can Ensure Readiness For The Next Storm

Tech​How Operational Access Can Ensure Readiness For The Next StormByScott Reynolds,Forbes Councils Member.for Forbes Technology CouncilCOUNCIL POSTExpertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Opinions expressed are those of the author. | Membership (fee-based)May 22, 2026, 09:00am EDTArchitect turned entrepreneur, Scott Reynolds is CEO & Co-Founder of UpCodes, making building codes accessible & AI-powered for the industry gettyAccording to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, "in 2025, the U.S. suffered a billion-dollar disaster every 10 days." From torrential floods and record tornado outbreaks to unprecedented wildfire seasons and atmospheric-river flooding across the Pacific Northwest, extreme weather events hit communities across every region of the U.S., underscoring how climate-driven hazards are now part of our baseline risk.These aren’t abstract national statistics; they’re tens of thousands of frontline moments where families, first responders, local leaders and small businesses face overwhelming pressure with very little to guide them. And too often it’s not about a lack of knowledge but rather a failure to get that knowledge into the hands of those who need it when they need it most.Extreme Weather As An Everyday Stress TestFloods overtopping levees, wildfire smoke choking metropolitan skylines, heatwaves searing pavement and power systems: These are recurring stressors on our infrastructure, housing stock and social fabric. Across wildfire-prone states alone, "more than 2.6 million homes ... are at moderate to very high risk of wildfire damage," with a collective reconstruction value of roughly $1.3 trillion.If you’ve spent time in California, as I have, you’ve watched these dynamics unfold in real time: Neighborhoods made untenable by smoke, fire and heat; local governments stretched thin trying to respond; residents unsure of whether their homes, insurance or emergency plans will carry them through....