Rebuilding Better in New York
Eileen Fretz, Flood Policy Director
February 11, 2013 | Climate Change, Floods & Floodplains
Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island, NY | Andrea Booher, FEMA
Soon after Hurricane Sandy hit, devastating much of the Northeast, politicians and experts took to the press to urge the government to help communities rebuild “better”. But what exactly does rebuilding “better” mean?
American Rivers offered some basic suggestions:
- Rebuild in the right places by protecting and restoring floodplains, wetlands, and barrier islands as natural defenses to buffer the impacts of future storms.
- Rebuild in the right way by improving infrastructure and strengthening building codes and zoning.
- Rebuild with an understanding of what we’re up against by incorporating climate science, modeling and uncertainty into flood risk management and preparedness plan.
So, three months after the storm, is the region rebuilding better?
This week, NY Governor Cuomo announced a proposal to rebuild in the right places in New York by spending as much as $400 million to purchase and demolish homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The bought out land would be preserved as dunes, wetlands, or natural buffers to would help preserve the flood-prone area as undeveloped coastline.
Governor Cuomo’s proposal to encourage people to rebuild out of harm’s way is a win-win for homeowners, taxpayers, and the environment. These programs are a life line for homeowners who don’t want to relive a devastating hurricane and can’t sell their flood-prone property.
Taxpayers win by investing in land protection and eliminating the need to pay for future disaster assistance. The land is left undeveloped, ideally restored to natural dune of wetland conditions, or turned into a public park.
However, even at $400 million New York’s buyout proposal will amount to a drop in the bucket of the $51 billion Sandy recovery bill recently approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama. This funding is potentially a huge investment in the long-term sustainability of the region, but it was allocated before a comprehensive plan has been developed for the region.
Truly rebuilding better will require coordination and a shared vision among all the federal, state, and local partners to make sure rebuilding occurs in the right places, in the right way, and with the right information.
Post a Comment
Comment Policy: Our goal is to provide a forum for sharing and interacting with others about issues that are affecting our rivers and our clean water. All comments offered in the spirit of civil conversation are welcome! Commercial spam, obscenity and other rude behavior are not, and will be removed.
Comments List
Submitted by Kay Travis at: February 13, 2013
The proposals outlined seem to be a good thing for the future of the area. People must learn that safety and real quality of life are more important than living in pretty but dangerous places. I'm glad to hear that the states are doing serious and well-advised planning for a better future.
Submitted by Susie at: February 13, 2013
We need to cluster housing, make communities that are in WALKING distance to shops, etc. Not build around the scale of the automobile. The beaches, views etc. should be the commons for wildlife and all others to enjoy.
Submitted by Mary Jozwiak at: February 12, 2013
Dams are not a cure-all for flooding. When new dams are built, existing farms, forests and towns are inundated. Why are these places and people less important than cities? Look up Environmental Effects Of Dams for more info.
Submitted by Anonymous at: February 12, 2013
n.y.s. needs dams built to fend off future flooding&also old&out dated dams need to be replaced.
Submitted by Susan Hayward at: February 12, 2013
Everyone dreams of a home by the water, but we now have evidence that such beautiful places are not all safe for building. Let's learn to live in less vulnerable places. We can visit the wonderful wild places as they were meant to be, and enjoy them safely for generations to come.