U.S. policymakers used to believe that relocating entire flood-prone communities away from vulnerable areas was too extreme a measure. That view is changing.
There is a growing acceptance that rebuilding over and over after successive floods makes little sense. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently detailed a new program that will be funded in the billions of dollars to pay for large-scale relocation nationwide.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has started a similar program, which followed a decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to prompt local officials to force people out of their at-risk homes or forfeit federal funds for flood-protection projects.
State governments are making similar moves. New Jersey has bought and torn down 700 flood-prone homes and made offers on hundreds more. California has told local governments to begin planning for relocation of homes away from the coast. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas have said they want to use federal money to fund the purchasing and demolishing of homes exposed to storms.
Related Stories
| Mar 22, 2012
Public agencies shouldn’t negotiate project labor agreements, says AGC official
When a public agency rather than the contractor negotiates a PLA with unions, it interferes with the right of employers and workers to reach their own agreements on working conditions and benefits, says Steve Isenhart, president of the Associated General Contractors of Washington.
| Mar 22, 2012
Proposed rule would let crane operators get licenses without prior city experience
The Bloomberg administration is considering letting operators of giant tower cranes get their license without requiring that they first run cranes as apprentices in the city for three years.
| Mar 22, 2012
Bill would reintroduce “opt-out” provision in lead paint law
The Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012 (S2148) would restore the "Opt-Out" provision removed from the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead Renovate, Repair and Painting (LRRP) rule in April 2010.
| Mar 15, 2012
New Florida building code establishes flood and storm surge provisions
The new 2010 code establishes minimum design and construction requirements to protect buildings from wind, rain, floods, and storm surges.
| Mar 15, 2012
Illinois city rejects international code due to home sprinkler requirement
Macomb, Illinois aldermen voted to recommend that the city not adopt 2012 international building and residential code standards requiring the installation of overhead sprinkler systems in newly constructed one-family and two-family homes.
| Mar 15, 2012
Tenant advocates propose licensing landlords in New York City
With thousands of New York City rental units posing potential dangers to tenants, city advocates are proposing measures to make landlords improve building safety.
| Mar 15, 2012
Construction industry a big winner in federal small disadvantaged business procurement
Last year, only 5% of federal contract dollars went to small disadvantaged businesses. Construction and facilities support firms were the biggest beneficiaries.
| Mar 15, 2012
ANSI approves new fall protection standards
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved two American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) standards addressing fall protection.