Before a storm reaches a city, nature may already be working to reduce its impact.

Far beyond the buildings and streets, wetlands stretch across coastal landscapes, river valleys, marshes, and floodplains.

They may look like quiet patches of water and vegetation.

But during extreme weather, they can become something much more important:

Natural infrastructure.

In The Wetlands That Protect Cities Before Storms Arrive, we explore how wetlands can absorb, store, slow, and redirect enormous amounts of water — helping protect communities from flooding and storm damage.

Wetlands such as salt marshes and mangrove forests can help reduce wave energy and slow the movement of storm-driven water before it reaches developed areas.

Vegetation creates resistance.

Roots stabilize sediment.

A ...