Something new from The White House: In October 2009, President Obama formed the Louisiana‐Mississippi Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Working Group, co‐led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and comprising senior‐level officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and […]
Tag Archives | adaptation & mitigation
With Crumbling Seawalls and Limited Resources, France Struggles with Storms
Posted on March 3, 2010
The Associated Press is reporting on the aftermath of Xynthia, the storm that slammed into Europe last weekend. The hurricane-force winds and huge storm surge destroyed seawalls and killed dozens there. The article focuses on the past, present, and future challenges of devastated historic towns along the French coast. New homes have cropped up chaotically […]
Insurer to Offer Discount for Strengthening Against Wind Damage
Posted on March 3, 2010
The Sun Herald is reporting that State Farm will offer discounts of up to 30% to policyholders who strengthen their homes against wind damage. From that short article: Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said Tuesday that he has approved State Farm’s plan to offer the mitigation discounts. They would apply to new construction and retrofits […]
Small-Town Cape Cod Also Losing Beaches VIDEO
Posted on February 10, 2010
Like California, eroding beaches on Cape Cod are threatening utilities, roads, and homes. (click on picture to watch video on NECN’s site). Erosion Concerns on Cape Cod (via NECN)
California Battles Disappearing Coastal Bluffs VIDEO
Posted on February 9, 2010
California struggles with bigger waves and falling homes. Click on the picture to head over to their site for the video. “Debate Emerges on How to Fight Coastal Erosion” via KGO-TV.
Case-Study: Freeboard Pays Off for Office/Condo
Posted on February 4, 2010
In 2008 a developer in North Dakota opted to spend an extra $2,000 to elevate a mixed business/condo structure 3 feet higher than the height required by the National Flood Insurance Program (i.e., he incorporated freeboard). “We realized the land was low-lying and we didn’t want to risk having the building flood,” he said. “Elevating […]
Community Threatens to Fine Homeowners Over Renourished-Beach Access
Posted on February 2, 2010
The New Jersey Star-Ledger has published a fascinating story about a barrier island community struggling with whether or not the Township can nourish private beaches within its jurisdiction without the blessing of its waterfront landowners. The debate, distilled into one paragraph: “Mayors want to keep beaches and dunes wide, attractive and safe. Waterfront homeowners balk […]
Two Communities on Two Coasts Move to Adapt to New Climates
Posted on February 1, 2010
Two new articles from two different areas on two different coasts. Both Neskowin, Oregon and the Norfolk-Virginia Beach metropolitan area are working to move beyond debating a changing climate to discussing what they’re going to do about it. Neskowin: a community with a disappearing beach An article in OregonLive describes how this small community (population […]
New Levee Outreach
Posted on December 16, 2009
The brainy folks over at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) have released a little handy outreach booklet designed to help folks living behind levees understand their risks. It’s called, appropriately, So, You Live Behind a Levee! The 28-page booklet answers such questions as: What does it mean to live behind a levee? Are […]
FEMA Clarifies Sand Replacement and Public Assistance Funding
Posted on November 20, 2009
FEMA has released a 4-page PDF called “Eligible Sand Replacement on Public Beaches” which clarifies the availability of public assistance funding for the replacement of sand on damaged public beaches. Briefly? Under certain conditions, funding may be available for both emergency and permanent work, but it needs to meet certain requirements and not be in […]