Leaders from across sectors gathered in Mobile, Alabama, for the Disaster Resilience Forum—part of a series of events hosted by the U.S. Chamber, Chamber Foundation and Allstate focused on strengthening community preparedness and sharing new research on the economic benefits of resilience.
Discussions were guided by new data from The Preparedness Payoff: Mobilereport, which found that in Mobile, every $1 invested in resilience and preparedness reduces economic costs by more than $14.
Mobile’s geography makes it especially vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding. The region is seeing more frequent and severe storms, which strain local resources and the economy. The report finds that if investment in storm/flooding preparedness were to fall by $1 million over 10 years (or $100,000 annually)—the economic toll on Mobile increases after a disaster strikes. For example:
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1,800
Jobs lost due to limited investment in preparedness
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$280M
Decline in GDP due to limited investment in preparedness
Read the Report
Allstate’s SVP and Deputy General Counsel, Corporate Law, Elliot Stultz emphasized that neither the public sector nor the private sector alone can solve the resilience challenge. It requires collaboration and partnerships across industries and with federal, state, and local governments, communities, NGO’s and non-profits.
“The first step is education,” said Stultz. “Often people don't think about replacing their roof on a sunny day—they wait until it’s pouring. But we need to start preparing and strengthening our communities and investing in disaster resilience now, while the sun is shining.”
Local Leadership Making an Impact
Mobile’s resilience efforts are a model for other communities, driven by strong leadership. Lance Slater, the city’s Chief Resilience Officer, has worked to foster partnerships and embed practical resilience solutions across infrastructure and community systems.
“Flooding is one of the most common complaints we get,” Slater said. “We’re working with departments across the city to map and maintain stormwater infrastructure, and we’re launching a campaign to help residents manage runoff on their own property.”
Bradley Byrne, President and CEO of the Mobile Chamber, speaks to attendees.
The U.S. Chamber's Chuck Chaitovitz speaks with Allstate’s Elliot Stultz.
Doug Otto, Interim Director & CEO for the Port of Mobile.
Business Council of Alabama's Helena Duncan and Lenise Ligon, Anchor at FOX10 News.
Attendees gather at the Disaster Resilience Forum.
Rob Glenn, Vice President of Resilience, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Infrastructure Must Be Designed for Resilience
The port of Mobile is a significant hub for global trade. Doug Otto, Interim Director & CEO for the Port of Mobile, emphasized the importance of regular coordination among agencies to ensure that port channels can reopen quickly after a disaster.
Mobile’s port infrastructure—including elevated signage and container terminals—has been intentionally designed to withstand hurricanes. This proactive planning is not just operationally smart but has also been a key factor in attracting new business, as potential customers will ask about disaster readiness before committing.
Community Voices: What Mobile Thinks About Resilience
During the forum, participants shared their views on resilience in Mobile.
- Participants said that community preparedness and education was seen as the top driver of long-term value (36%), followed by stronger building codes and zoning (28%).
- Participants identified infrastructure failure (38%) and flooding (33%) as the greatest risks facing Mobile today.
- When asked what would most help advance resilience, the top responses were funding, data sharing, and a designated resilience officer—reinforcing the importance of leadership and resources.
The Strengthen Alabama Homes Program: A Model for Impact
One of the most highlighted initiatives was Alabama’s Strengthen Alabama Homes grant program, which has helped over 9,600 homes become more resilient through nearly $95 million in investments.
Cross-Sector Collaboration Is Key
Helena Duncan, President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships, especially in workforce recovery and infrastructure planning.
“We learned during COVID that we can’t build the plan while the disaster is happening,” Duncan said. “We need a clear, communicated plan that can be activated immediately.”
Robust insurance markets are also essential for community resilience. Allstate’s Elliot Stultz explained how policy decisions directly affect insurance availability and affordability, noting the contrast between Texas (with a healthy insurance market) and California (where pricing restrictions have led to market instability).
The Alabama Resilience Council, initiated by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, was cited as a promising example of statewide coordination. It brings together stakeholders from utilities, health agencies, and businesses to ensure Alabama is ready for whatever comes next.
Local television station FOX10 covered the Mobile Disaster Resilience Forum. Read and watch their coverage here.
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About the author
Lindsay Burton
Lindsay (Cates) Burton is a director on the communications team. She leads strategic communications for member marketing partnerships and small business advocacy programs. She previously worked as a writer and editor at U.S. News and World Report.
