Coastal communities face a variety of threats from tsunamis to hurricanes, Nor’Easters, and Lake Effect Snowstorms. All can imperil life, property, and commerce. Dense development in the coastal area coupled with these threats can lead to significant economic impacts. The cumulative cost of the 16 separate billion-dollar weather events in the U.S. in 2017 alone totaled $312.7 billion, exceeding the previous record of $214.8 billion set in 2005.