Introduction

Modern urban infrastructure exists as a tightly coupled system where the failure of one component can cascade through interconnected networks with devastating speed. This brief examines how climate events—particularly compound disasters—exploit these interdependencies.

The Cascade Model

A single flood event in a coastal city can trigger the following cascade:

1. Power grid failure → Loss of water treatment capacity
2. Water contamination → Hospital system overload
3. Health system strain → Reduced emergency response capability
4. Emergency failure → Increased mortality from secondary events

Case Studies

Analysis of 47 major urban climate events between 2015-2024 reveals that cascade failures account for 62% of total economic damage and 78% of mortality—far exceeding the direct impact of the initiating event.