There are TWO issues at work here and they are the FAULT of Republican economy and exploitation of the American Dream.
Climate Change has brought increased 'natural tragedy' to the American landscape, but, it alone is not responsible for the increased in NATIONAL FLOOD PLAIN AREAS.
The increase in 'flood plains' in the USA is due to OVER USE of land for construction. Under Bush/Cheney and the exploitive Republican majorities there were huge expenditures for housing and commercial development. Literally across the USA land was destroyed from its 'natural' state and modified whichever way necessary to allow for construction. It is how the Republicans for eight long fiscally exploitive years claimed they produced an economy. It is also why so many construction workers have faced unemployment and retraining into new careers.
When natural areas that are well forested and absorb water are sacrificed for construction, replaced with roads and concrete there is only ONE thing to expect and that is flooding and plenty of it.
Conservationists see it all the time and it is almost a joke and a matter of time. Contractors bank roll land with the permission of city planners and local politicians and alter the natural state of the land. They sell their construction for housing or commercial development and call it an economy. The towns are then left with the clean up when the first major storm rolls through and the houses are under water.
It is a joke because the homeowners will receive FEMA money and rebuild, but, then when the second major storm rolls through and their rebuilt home is sitting on a flood plain, they no longer receive FEMA money and they eventually abandon the property, leave it for tax collectors, declare bankruptcy and Conservations get it back again for reclamation.
Now, insurance companies are having a good 'ole time collecting high rates from clients because people actually believe they can tolerate a cycle of flood and joy. Well, good luck, you don't get my sympathy. You can thank the 'TARP' banks for your misery. Somewhere in the contractors proceedings to build there exploitive construction project is a document is adverse to even starting the building project and if there isn't it is because land use ordinances don't require it or require it in a way that matters. Time for people to do their homework and demand better govement or pay through the nose the rest of your life.
New Bedford planner David Kennedy walked atop the New Bedford-Fairhaven hurricane barrier yesterday. (Jonathan Wiggs/ Globe Staff)
Waves of concern (click title to entry - thank you)
Property owners face steep insurance rate hikes, as new federal maps shift flood zone boundaries
Thousands of Massachusetts property owners are discovering their homes and businesses are in newly designated federal flood zones, forcing them to buy additional insurance coverage that can easily exceed $2,000 annually.
The changes are the result of a Federal Emergency Management Agency project to remap flood zones, county by county nationwide. The agency plans to finish most of its Massachusetts maps by next summer, and local governments are in the process of notifying residents and business owners about the new zoning. At the same time, lenders are telling affected borrowers they must increase their insurance coverage....
