Fixed for Failure: How flood insurance keeps dangerous homes standing in SC

A row of cottages once stood where these two remaining buildings were located. Their removal is in the pattern of a disorganized and costly retreat forced by the sea, instead of a reasoned, orderly moving back in response to the sea-level rise. Severe coastal erosion, North Carolina. Photo courtesy of: © Andy Coburn

Excerpts:

Flooding caused by rising tides, hurricane-force winds and rain deluges, has left a glut of damaged properties in South Carolina’s real estate market, specifically in cities along the coast.

Records obtained from the federal government through an open records request show the claims history of specific addresses, which are usually kept secret from all but the owners…

Also of Interest:

Coastal communities should exercise caution in using FEMA Flood Maps as the primary indicator of coastal risk; By Rob Young, Director of The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University,(02-14-2019)

Sea level rise study shows Charleston area one of the riskiest places to live in Southeast; The Post and Courrier (06-18-2018)

Sea rise along South Carolina coast accelerating faster than realized, researcher says; Post And Courier (02-01-2019)

Building sunken breakwaters off SC coast to halt beach erosion has unclear future; Post and Courier (03-19-2020)

Federal report: High-tide flooding could happen ‘every other day’ by late this century; The Washington Post (03-28-2018)

New Study Finds Sea Level Rise Accelerating; NASA (02-13-2018)
Global sea level rise is accelerating incrementally over time rather than increasing at a steady rate, as previously thought, according to a new study based on 25 years of NASA and European satellite data…

In Next Decades, Frequency of Coastal Flooding Will Double Globally; USGS (05-18-2017)
The frequency and severity of coastal flooding throughout the world will increase rapidly and eventually double in frequency over the coming decades even with only moderate amounts of sea level rise, according to a new study released in “Scientific Reports.”…

Coastal Hazards & Targeted Acquisitions: A Reasonable Shoreline Management Alternative: North Topsail Beach, North Carolina Case Study; By the Western Carolina University Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines – July 1, 2019
This study is the first of several case studies to be released by the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines examining the feasibility and economics of targeted acquisition strategies in oceanfront, resort communities. Buyouts of vulnerable properties have become an increasingly popular tool for reducing future exposure in flood-prone communities across the U.S.

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