Seas in the Southern United States have risen dramatically since 2010. The extra water has upended life — flooding homes, choking septic systems and deluging roads.
Indeed. Of course, at least some of the folks left holding the bag will inevitably be the ones who either just placed a bad bet (e.g., got the property at a steal and are hoping for remediation/relief/miracles) or came to their misfortune honestly and just can’t afford to bail themselves out (e.g, inheritors of uninsurable coastal land who can’t sell it for any price).
I’m sympathetic to the latter. --less so the former, but even so, the difference between six inches of sea level rise and a meter is the difference between saving or losing a lot of properties. I could understand how someone might guess wrong about how bad it will be for their favorite beach.
Like land reform in general, the policy needs to protect residents first, small investors next, and large investors last or not at all. This is going to create citizen refugees, whether they’re at fault or not. Bankrupting speculators and gamblers is fine, but adding millions of new homeless is still a societal problem. The best time to prepare was 20 years ago, and the second best time is immediately and without delay.
The best time to prepare was 20 years ago, and the second best time is immediately and without delay.
And let me tell you, the State of Florida isn’t going to do either of those things. There are ~20 skyscrapers going up in the “democratic” stronghold of Miami right now. Being built on top of limerock that is literally being dissolved by the acidification of the ocean.
This is what “we” voted for.
This is also why my house is 60+ miles from the coast & on top of one of the tallest hills in my county.
Indeed. Of course, at least some of the folks left holding the bag will inevitably be the ones who either just placed a bad bet (e.g., got the property at a steal and are hoping for remediation/relief/miracles) or came to their misfortune honestly and just can’t afford to bail themselves out (e.g, inheritors of uninsurable coastal land who can’t sell it for any price).
I’m sympathetic to the latter. --less so the former, but even so, the difference between six inches of sea level rise and a meter is the difference between saving or losing a lot of properties. I could understand how someone might guess wrong about how bad it will be for their favorite beach.
Like land reform in general, the policy needs to protect residents first, small investors next, and large investors last or not at all. This is going to create citizen refugees, whether they’re at fault or not. Bankrupting speculators and gamblers is fine, but adding millions of new homeless is still a societal problem. The best time to prepare was 20 years ago, and the second best time is immediately and without delay.
And let me tell you, the State of Florida isn’t going to do either of those things. There are ~20 skyscrapers going up in the “democratic” stronghold of Miami right now. Being built on top of limerock that is literally being dissolved by the acidification of the ocean.
This is what “we” voted for.
This is also why my house is 60+ miles from the coast & on top of one of the tallest hills in my county.
We can wait until Florida gets reclaimed by the sea, then fix climate change.