Because there is a hurricane in the air.
Whether it is Mississippi flood plains, the barrier islands of the Outer Banks, cities that exist below sea level, or other vulnerable locales, it have frequently wondered about the wisdom of using federal dollars to rebuild these areas after a disaster strikes. In the wake of hurricane Sandy, it is nice to know that I am not alone.
By rebuilding in areas that are prone to major damage, we are not only wasting tax dollars, we are also putting lives at risk. Wouldn't we all be better off if these areas were instead purchased by the government and turned into parks or preserves?
Over time, disaster relief costs would diminish and we could stop charging flood insurance for properties that physically cannot flood.
...
Tangentially, I was reading a story about the New York residents that were abandoned for weeks on end following Sandy. One of the residents was complaining about the lack of help in any form for her area.
She made the curious comment that she didn't have flood insurance as she could not afford it. And yet she still seemed to think that the feds would come riding to the rescue with dollars a-plenty for one and all.
This is the world we have built. I can think of better ones.
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