Should coastal communities rebuild or retreat after Hurricane Ian?
Homes flooded by Hurricane Ian. photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife
Hurricane Ian hit Florida on September 28, with damage still being tallied.the result may be one of the most destructive Storms recorded in U.S. history.At least 100 people have been reported dead, making it the Florida’s deadliest hurricane in a century. Power outages affect millions. Homes and businesses were destroyed, with damage estimated at at least $60 billion.
Immediately after, priorities focused on helping those affected by the storm. also raised questions Regarding the adequacy of the state’s evacuation orders and hurricane preparations.
Now, as the conversation shifts from immediate response to long-term recovery, experts are bringing up the following topics: Manage Retreat — The process of relocating homes and communities away from danger.
A recent opinion piece in The New York Times noted, American taxpayers are paying billions Spend $100 a year rebuilding a property that has been repeatedly hit by disasters supercharged by climate changeThe authors argue that, at the very least, we need to make sure that adaptability and resilience are taken into account when rebuilding these structures – in some places, it’s better to pack up and move.
It’s easy to suggest, but hard to implement in a way that doesn’t make things worse.and State of the EarthColumbia Climate Institute expert alex de shepin and Nadia Sitram Some of the challenges of managing an evacuation are discussed, especially for communities hardest hit like Hurricane Ian.
Stay or go?
Seeteram is a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia Climate Institute Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. She studies risk and vulnerability to sea level rise. while studying for a Ph.D. In Florida, she surveyed residents’ willingness to move or stay to adapt.
“Most people want to fit in, but they recognize that moving may be something they may need to think about long-term,” Seeteram said.
De Sherbinin is a geographer who studies climate-related vulnerability and migration at the Columbia Climate Institute. International Geoscience Information Network CenterThere are ways to make rebuilding better and stronger — by updating building codes; using natural infrastructure such as wetlands and mangroves; for example, by building levees and sea walls to strengthen infrastructure, he said.
“Each of these options needs to be weighed in the local context, because the way bathymetry, topography and wave action occur at certain locations can be very different just a mile or so apart,” de Sherbinin said.
Seeteram noted that in some parts of Florida, seawalls won’t be effective because the underlying geology would allow water to seep out anyway.
Despite the general hope that adaptation can keep these areas habitable, the idea of managed retreats appears to be gaining traction as hurricanes and flooding from rising seas become more frequent and severe.
“Managed retreat is rising on the American agenda,” Descherbinin said. “So it does become more politically feasible to have these conversations with communities and local planners.”
Damage from Hurricane Ian. photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife
complicating factors
Relocating homes and communities faces complex challenges – this is where de Sherbinin and Seeteram help Manage Retreat, scheduled for June 21-23, 2023. Past conferences in 2019 and 2021 have highlighted many problems This has to be addressed in order to be in a managed retreat a fair and just manner.
For some communities and families, the thought of leaving is unthinkable. “Their home is their biggest investment,” explains de Sherbinin. “They have communities. They are rooted in one way or another. Moving is a very difficult thing for some people in certain communities — but not for everyone.”
Seeteram noted that this could be a particular challenge in Florida due to the high proportion of older adults. “Generally, they don’t necessarily think it’s their life’s problem. I interviewed some older people and they would say, ‘No, that’s it, I’m not going anywhere. “They have regular income. They can’t make any other decisions, so it’s scary.”
Even if the community does decide to relocate, the process can be long and complicated. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, a pilot program provided buyouts for 10 Miami homes, but to this day the families have not received relocation funds, Seeteram said. She explained that the delays have to do with how money flows from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to state and local governments.
“It’s a complex process, and state and local governments have a lot to learn,” she said.
The complex process involved in managing retreats can lead to equity issues. For example, there is clear evidence that wealthier communities are favored in FEMA acquisitions, giving people fewer means to protect themselves.
“Affluent homeowners are better able to take advantage of government assistance, fill out paperwork, handle all the bureaucracy needed to get back their funds and deal with FEMA,” explained de Sherbinin. “Some communities of color also lack trust in government.”
in Florida, Gentrification is another issue As climate change pushes residents from coastlines to areas traditionally inhabited by low-income and disadvantaged groups.
Also, it’s unclear whether the relatively safe parts of Florida that were devastated by the hurricane could accommodate the massive influx of refugees to the coast. Seeteram noted that the state is already suffering from an affordability crisis, with many finding themselves homeless.
Need for support and transparency
Seeteram called for more transparency on why certain communities were chosen for acquisitions.
She also noted that some of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ian are more rural and may not have the resources to pursue acquisition programs. “If we want this to be fair, there should be some support for communities to learn how to implement these programs and training for locals like planners and resilience specialists,” she said.
For communities looking to relocate, resources are available online, such as Georgetown University’s Managed Retreat Kit.
With limited government funding for relocation, “my view is that,” Descherbinen said, “there will never be enough resources to pay for the staggering cost of moving so many people out of climate-affected places. High cost.” His advice: Communities that relocate first may have an advantage in resources.
Active rather than passive power
Disasters like Hurricane Ian always get people thinking seriously about managing a retreat. But Seeteram believes it’s important to start discussions before disaster strikes, so residents can avoid damage in the first place or make informed and empowered decisions during recovery.
“What would really be useful would be if we could use managed retreats in a proactive and strategic way as part of a toolbox of coastal adaptation options,” she said.
“More expected action needs to be taken,” agreed Decherbinin. “And I think that’s one of the purposes of our management retreats – to highlight the need to start conversations on these topics because it often takes a while for people to accept that’s a growing reality.”
The Managed Retreat conference, hosted by the Columbia Climate Institute, will take place June 21-23, 2023. The conference will bring together academics, industry representatives, and city and tribal leaders to discuss many of these issues and more. check here renew.
