The US spends billions rebuilding the same communities after each disaster, and the money runs out before the risk does. Abby Ross, CEO of The Resiliency Company, walks through why that model breaks down as billion dollar disasters hit roughly every two weeks, with over $12 trillion in residential real estate exposed to severe risk. A lifelong entrepreneur who previously led the donor advised fund now called For Good, Abby explains how catalytic grants and low interest loans got Alabama to fortify close to 100,000 roofs, and how she is applying that playbook to fire risk in Los Angeles.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and introducing Abby Ross

00:52 Abby's path from ed tech to resilience

01:38 From For Good's disaster data to a new nonprofit

03:50 The scale: billion dollar disasters and $12 trillion exposed

06:05 Lessons from building The Resiliency Company

08:16 Strengthen Alabama Homes and the fortified roof model

11:08 How the Alabama grants got started

11:48 Resilient Los Angeles and the Resilient Delta Fund

13:12 Seed money, market forces, and how the programs work

16:14 Defining resilience: built environment and physical risk

17:40 Public infrastructure and the financing gap

19:49 Sustainable financing mechanisms and the Risk Reserve Tool

22:14 What a resilient future looks like

25:07 Green shoots and the ROI of resilience

27:21 Trends among developers and the commercial real estate playbook

29:31 Takeaways for individuals and homeowners

You can follow Abby Ross here:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailross/

Learn more about The Resiliency Company:

Website - https://resiliency.com

Follow the Green Shoots & Big Shifts Podcast here:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-shoots-big-shifts/