My latest for @PublicIntegrity is a collaboration with @WNYC/@Gothamist and @voxdotcom on the changing National Flood Insurance Program and what that means for housing inequality (hint: not good)
Read: publicintegrity.org/environment/fl…
Some things I learned👇🏼
Read: publicintegrity.org/environment/fl…
Some things I learned👇🏼
Climate risk is increasing flood risk; not just for those who live on the coast or near water.
Yes, rising seas 🌊
But also, heavier rains ⛈️
Development also drives ⬆️ flood risk.
More cement, concrete; less places for water to go. 🏢
Yes, rising seas 🌊
But also, heavier rains ⛈️
Development also drives ⬆️ flood risk.
More cement, concrete; less places for water to go. 🏢
What struck me is that despite that, the discussion around flood risk is centered on financially mastering flood risk using insurance instead of mitigation: methods to prevent flooding.
But as many academics point out, insurance does little to reduce actual flood risk.
But as many academics point out, insurance does little to reduce actual flood risk.
Flood insurance is a VERY polarizing topic that is *often* discussed in a policy vacuum that disregards the realities of race and socioeconomics.
TWO major factors that drive housing and real estate decisions in the U.S. Hello, subprime lending and redlining.
TWO major factors that drive housing and real estate decisions in the U.S. Hello, subprime lending and redlining.
Policy experts often point to 'simple fixes' for the National Flood Insurance Program:
💸make premiums risk-based, and therefore more expensive
🛑make it less accessible
🔓 privatize it and open up the program for competition
💸make premiums risk-based, and therefore more expensive
🛑make it less accessible
🔓 privatize it and open up the program for competition
Similarly, many experts espouse 'simple fixes' for communities like Canarsie facing escalating flood risk:
🏚️ don't rebuild in floodplains
🏡 relocate
🛠️ floodproof your home
💳 make flood insurance more affordable
🏚️ don't rebuild in floodplains
🏡 relocate
🛠️ floodproof your home
💳 make flood insurance more affordable
Some issues with aforementioned 'fixes':
❓A "floodplain" today isn't what constitutes a floodplain tmrw or 20 yrs from now. Risk is *dynamic* and no one, not the gov't or insurers, has mastered risk and climate change will likely make things less clear, not more.
❓A "floodplain" today isn't what constitutes a floodplain tmrw or 20 yrs from now. Risk is *dynamic* and no one, not the gov't or insurers, has mastered risk and climate change will likely make things less clear, not more.
Decisions about who does or doesn't get to stay or rebuild in their communities are inherently POLITICAL decisions.
I see folks saying communities like Canarsie are a lost cause and the homeowners should give up and move elsewhere.
Cool, with what money? Also, where? And how?
I see folks saying communities like Canarsie are a lost cause and the homeowners should give up and move elsewhere.
Cool, with what money? Also, where? And how?
Worthwhile to point out that I have not heard anyone SERIOUSLY (or recently) espouse the idea of relocating or not rebuilding Wall Street/downtown Manhattan, an area that flooded pretty badly during Sandy.
Lastly, affordability is in the eye of the beholder. 👁️
What is 'affordable' for one is out of reach for another. That kept coming up again and again while I was working on this story.
Canarsie is NOT a low income neighborhood. It is working class.
What is 'affordable' for one is out of reach for another. That kept coming up again and again while I was working on this story.
Canarsie is NOT a low income neighborhood. It is working class.
