Hurricane Idalia, the eighth major hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast in the last six years, has raised concerns about the appropriateness of rebuilding in vulnerable areas and where to rebuild, according to experts interviewed by CNN. The Gulf Coast is experiencing the impacts of human-caused climate change, including rapid sea level rise, which makes storm surge and flooding more dangerous for low-lying communities. The region is also facing a shrinking insurance pool, as many insurance companies are pulling out of some Gulf states, leaving homeowners and businesses with more risk and fewer options to finance their recovery in a way that will make buildings stronger and better able to withstand future storms.
Jesse Keenan, a professor of sustainable real estate at Tulane University’s School of Architecture, questioned whether federal and state dollars should be spent on rebuilding areas that are likely to be hit by future storms. He raised the issue of whether it is appropriate to continue rebuilding in these areas. Jeremy Porter, the head of climate implications at the nonprofit research group First Street Foundation, stated that some communities have reached a tipping point where relocation is a better option than rebuilding. He predicted that more communities will face this dilemma in the next few decades as climate risks continue to increase.
The Gulf Coast is not the only region facing insurance challenges. California, Florida, and Louisiana are viewed as the major hotspots where the pool of uninsured homeowners is growing due to larger disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. Private insurers have stopped offering flood or wildfire policies, leaving more people to turn to the state-supported insurer of last resort, where they have to pay more money for a narrower policy. In Louisiana, 17% of homeowners insurance policyholders had their policies canceled last year.
The issue of rebuilding repeatedly flooded infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, also needs to be addressed. While Hurricane Idalia struck a less-populated area with natural defenses like marshlands and wilderness, it was the strongest storm to make landfall on that stretch of Florida coast in over 125 years. The storm surge swept away cottage-like homes that were not built to withstand such a powerful storm. Rebuilding homes to be elevated and more resilient is an option, but it requires updated building codes and a healthy insurance market that is accessible to all homeowners, not just the wealthy.
The question of where to rebuild is particularly relevant for island communities like Cedar Key, which are only accessible by bridge. These areas have tenuous infrastructural links with the mainland and are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Municipalities have to borrow money to build and maintain roads in these areas, and they are now factoring in the cost of climate change. The issue of where to rebuild will become more pressing as climate change accelerates sea level rise.
Overall, Hurricane Idalia and other Gulf Coast storms highlight the need to reconsider rebuilding in vulnerable areas and to prioritize resilience in building codes and insurance options. Climate change is increasing the risks faced by coastal communities, and proactive measures are necessary to protect lives and property in the face of future storms and sea level rise.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-09-03 08:17:00