Low-lying areas brace for floods
Low-lying parts of town are bracing for spring flooding; there’s lots more reportage about areas off island, too.
Friday, all our media are leading with flood stories, as rain is expected Friday and Saturday. Climate change is necessarily changing our relationship with waterways, especially given that we live in an archipelago and authorities allowed a lot of housing to be built in flood zones.
Uatu 12:20 on 2019-04-20 Permalink
Unfortunately the home owners have to move as these floods are becoming more common and constant rebuilding is seemingly endless. Either that or build a floating house or one on stilts that are 10ft. High.
Kate 13:06 on 2019-04-20 Permalink
Or redo the maps and declare certain areas off limits to new building or even transfers of property. No, I don’t know how people will be reimbursed, but it makes no sense for people to be living in flood zones and calling for government assistance every year or two, either.
Ian 23:21 on 2019-04-20 Permalink
The new rules are pretty clear, if you are in a flood zone you can only expect a certain level of compensation depending on how prone your area is. Many of the west island zones are not going to be compensated further in any way, i.e.; if you ar in a known flood zone you can rebuild at your own expense if you desire but it is recommended that you not bother and go elsewhere. While this may seem harsh to folks that have lived in certain zones for generations the realities of climate change affect us as much as Florida, seek high ground, water isn’t going away. In other news I have seen certain formerly prime waterfront properties selling for next to nothing… I guess if you were into rice farming and/or building on stilts it might be a big opportunity.
Kate 11:18 on 2019-04-21 Permalink
Thanks for the info, Ian.