National Hurrican Insurance Program?

[question everything]

What about it? Getting all of us to pay for hurricane damage in states prone to them?

I am not talking about people who have lived in Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico since before the advent of air conditioning.

I am talking about the millions who moved from the Northeast and the Midwest to these states, close to the beach, and now expect the rest of us to "share the burden."

What about people living in Tornado Alley (and in other places that were hit by tornadoes?) What about people living in the dry mountains of California next to sage brush that easily catch fire? Or on top of cliffs by the Pacific ocean, where erosion get their homes on edge, and even to slide down?

I am not sure about Montana and Wyoming, but I think that practically every state is under danger of a natural disaster of one kind of another. I don't see why the residents of Florida - a swing state, we know - should get extra money from the tax payers.

I think that the low income residents who have always lived there should get assistance from a state fund. But everyone else - if they cannot afford flood insurance they can move back to Ohio and to Michigan. The states could sure use some infusion of people and property.

And before you start a one or two-word flaming, please explain what I am missing.

[angstlessk]

1. why not a national disaster insurance fund? that way it covers all areas

including hurricains, tornados, floods, earthquakes, since every part of the nation is hit by one or more of these disasters.

[question everything]

2. Makes sense.

And I think we have something like that: declaring an area a disaster zone.

But I don't see why Florida should get a preferential treatment (well, I see, this is an election year..)

[KamaAina]

16. Little-known fact: Florida is not the only state ever hit by a hurricane.

[pitohui]

18. it's sad we have to actually point this out, isn't it? what is WRONG with people?

for some crazy reason i thought this was a progressive news site

sigh

is the average person really this severely lacking in anything above the neck?

[question everything]

20. My original post refered to "States along the Guld Coast"

But it was in the news earlier this week when McCain appeared along with the Florida gov. and it was reported that they differ on this topic.

And, it is Florida, more than LA or MS that will be a "battle ground" state in November.

[shraby]

3. What might be in order is a national disaster

policy that covers all contingencies that befall all states in one way or another..flooding, hurricanes, blizzards, tornados, ice storms, earthquakes, fires, landslides, avalanches, volcanic eruptions and any others I've missed. All citizens can pay a fee and get coverage. They would be covered for the disaster their area happens to get hit with.

[bullimiami]

5. absolutely. and no more incentive for the private insurer

to take someones premiums and fight paying up ever.

insurance today is a scam. its been set up by industry and the government to create a system where people have to pay in but the coverage is not guaranteed.
the bigger the catastrophe the bigger the ripoff because insurance can never lose money. they make or take their ball and go home.

[question everything]

9. Makes sense, except

There are many who build on areas that are prone to disaster. Along the coast - while blocking access to the public beach to others - inside California mountains..

I don't see why the rest of us should subsidize their desire to have the best view in the world.

Yes, have a national insurance that covers everything. But identify the areas that are more in danger and tell these people that they are on their own.

A friend who is a demographer more than 10 years observed that 50% of the population lives within 50 miles of a body of water. Much of it is sprawl.

Several years ago, when a lot of rain caused a whole community in California to slide down a slope, most of the people said they would build again. On the same spot. I don't think that this is something that we, the tax payers, should subsidize.

And after Katrina, I've heard of suggestions not to rebuild the 9th ward - which, of course, would have never happen.

But we need to identify the areas where, either because there are too many or because of climatic change should be declared a hazardous zone and let the ones who choose to go ahead, to get their own insurance, if they can.

[jus_the_facts]

4. Well I'll be goddamned....and all along that's what I thought FEMA was for.

:yoiks:

[shraby]

6. FEMA doesn't work anymore. We need something

that does.

[jus_the_facts]

8. Oh yeah.....

...how ignorant of me not to notice. :eyes:

[ret5hd]

7. FEMA rebuilds/repairs damaged houses and buildings?

[jus_the_facts]

11. It should...and could...if it were properly funded by our tax dollars.....

....and appropriately dispensed in emergencies...but instead...like everything else...it's FUBAR.

[ret5hd]

13. Maybe should, maybe could, but that is not written into its mission statement.

[jus_the_facts]

15. Here's the statement from their last mission....

.....heard loud and clear down here....

[question everything]

10. FEMA is for initial assitance to offer food and shelter

and medical attention.

FEMA is not in the business to rebuild destroyed home. This is what private insurance companies and a Federal Flood Insurance do.

The Federal Flood Insurance Program, however, is different

The U.S. Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) with the passage of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The NFIP is a Federal program enabling property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance as a protection against flood losses in exchange for State and community floodplain management regulations that reduce future flood damages. Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between communities and the Federal Government. If a community adopts and enforces a floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood risk to new construction in floodplains, the Federal Government will make flood insurance available within the community as a financial protection against flood losses. This insurance is designed to provide an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to reduce the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods.

[jus_the_facts]

14. Yeah...good night...and good luck....

....lots of folks down my way...found that out the hardest of ways...from the bottom to the top...complete and total gov't failure....ahh yet life goes on...and the gov't couldn't care much less. :nopity:

[onethatcares]

12. I live in Floriduh and this is the firstest I've heard of this.

I own a home built in 1926, My insurance premium is 2770.00 a year to cover 191,000 worth of rebuild if we get the big one. I live about 5 miles from the gulf of mexico and about the same from Tampa bay. It seems the houses that knocked down are the cheapass built ones that got a big price tag and were built right on the friggin dunes, which is definitely not the place to live although the sunsets are nice.

Now, if we had a national catastrophe plan, spread out among all of us, I could live with that.

[question everything]

19. Here

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iE2JCSH5p9r2GBkQWS9TWAMzmuvQD914F8S00

I don't see why we should have a national program to pay for these big houses with "big price tag and were built right on the friggin dunes."

This is exactly my point. If we do have such a program, it will just encourage more such buildings.

[pitohui]

17. sounds like someone's missing a heart and a soul (since you asked!)

( read: comment deleted because it could be considered a flame, but what you posted could be considered a flame as well so who knows)

i've lived here many a decade and louisiana was, in fact, prior to katrina, the least mobile state in the nation, no one moved here to "enjoy" the hurricanes, we moved here to drill your oil, refine your oil, and ship you your damn food and coal up the river -- middle class/working people who will not get any hand-out are VITAL to new orleans and to the south

thank you verra much for your concern


and please THINK before you post about ways to pick my pocket, think -- is what i'm about to say an asset to the progressive and democratic cause? or is it just plain hurtful to those who have already suffered enough?

WE ALREADY PAY TAXES, STOP SENDING OUR MONEY TO IRAQ AND HALLIBURTON AND ADDITIONAL TAXES WOULD NEVER BE NEEDED, okay, sorry, i'm calm now

[question everything]

21. What's that got to do with the war in Iraq?

These are two separate topics.

Friends of mine last year had to have their roof repaired since a storm - not a tornado - moved a tree through their roof and into their bedroom. The insurance paid, but they had to sign an agreement that they will not submit another claim for three years. Yeah, right. Future storms will go around their houses. But no one is going to "spread" their losses among all other states, right?

What is wrong with people taking responsibility for their actions? Since when does "progressive" mean making a bad decision - like buying a house you cannot and should not - and then let the rest of the country pay for your mistakes?

There are areas along the coast that are more prone to damage and people should not build houses on them. There are areas along the California coast that are receding because of erosion; people should not build there. If they do - it is their responsibility to secure a catastrophic insurance.