Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumSurprise! FEMA Flooding Buyouts Flow To Wealthy Counties Out Of Proportion To Risks, Damages
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Federal buyout programs play an important part of the countrys defenses against climate change, by giving homeowners in vulnerable places a way to relocate after a storm. That approach, sometimes called managed retreat, calls for pulling back from dangerous areas rather than continually rebuilding after each disaster, or pouring money into physical defenses such as sea walls and pumps. But homeowners cant apply for buyouts directly from the federal government. Instead, they rely on their local officials participating in those programs and deciding which homeowners can participate.
The paper found that while most buyouts take place in areas with high flood risk, that wasnt the only factor at play. Many areas with equally high risk didnt receive funding, or received far less. The data show that buyouts were disproportionately concentrated in wealthy and densely populated counties. The reason, according to the reports authors, is that local officials must request federal funds for buyouts and then successfully navigate a series of bureaucratic requirements and wealthier jurisdictions are more likely to have the staff and expertise necessary to do that.
Buyouts require resources and capacity to administer, said Caroline M. Kraan, another of the studys authors. Not all governments may be equally able to access the program.
In addition, once local officials receive the federal funds, buyouts arent evenly distributed within those counties, nor are they distributed according to risk levels alone. Instead, counties tend to use the money to buy and tear down homes in poorer neighborhoods, the authors found.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/climate/disaster-flood-buyouts-climate-change.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)The Oligarchical revolution is a nice, quiet affair and there is no such thing as "class war". Oh, the pumps and funnels may make a little noise, but just listen to some music or watch Netflix or something and you won't notice. The extraction process is just a necessary part of doing business.
So, pay no attention to the wealthier folks doing their thing and enjoy your idea of that pesky democracy notion you have, for now. It will be over before you know it. Well, in a couple of decades or so.
Meanwhile, have some fun and don't talk about this. It is pointless and futile to resist and you do have all those wedge issues and a big, orange distraction to deal with.