America needs a "Storm Coast" Commission.

[SoCalDem]

It's unconscionable that EVERY stinking year, hurricanes come, and FEAM or no FEMA, the recovery usually ends up looking like Amateur Hour.

The volunteers work their asses off,down in the "trenches", but the higher-ups seem to get very little right..

There simply has to be some real attention...serious attention to how to develop/re-develop the coastal zones. The price to "fix it" only goes up, and there are people in Florida who still have damage from LAST YEAR'S storms, and got more damage this year.

These are not "surprise" storms like tornadoes..They are predictable, and the experts know exactly where the vulnerable places are..

Starting with North Carolina, and ranging all through the gulf to the end of Texas is and always has been a danger zone for half a year..every year..

Whether it's beefing up levees, breahwaters, jetties..whatever or restricting growth in prone areas, or salvaging wetlands and barrier islands that were meant to be a buffer zone.. something has to be done..

Here in CA, they passed strict laws regarding building ..to prepare for quakes.. They can and will still happen, but at least the state is addressing it.

All we see in the storm coast states is more growth, and higher and higher concentrations of people in vulnerable places..

Just this morning I heard that 2 more insurers were pulling out of Florida...

I know that the "bosses" in some of these areas do not believe in Global warming, but scientists..real scientists need to be included in the commission...


Perhaps there could be a pool created to hold funds for the storms in the affected states, so they would not have to try to patch together a crazy quilt of local/state/federal intervention.. the way it is now, only gives cover to each group.. they all blame each other, or like Jeb, issue a sarcastic "Blame Me..but don't criticise me" edict..

Thirsty/hungry people don't really are about who's to blame.. They want food water shelter...not photo-ops and excuses.

[slor]

1. I believe this is more of a new...

failure. FEMA was considered very effective under Clinton, so maybe we just need a competent president, that really gives a damn about the people.

[SoCalDem]

2. That would be a nice start, but the storms will happen every year

and instead of just dumping money and aid into the same areas year after year, perhaps a commission could shed some light on how to "soften the blow" or encourage people to live in safer areas or discourage builders from building the kinds of homes that will not withstand the strengthening storms..

Builders must keep the houses as "affordable" as possible, so ordinary people can somewhat afford them..The super wealthy can afford to build in 'storm deterrents', and they can also afford the insurance or to even take a total loss.. Most people cannot..

It's downright insane to see all the mobiles/modulars that are scattered all over areas that are prone to the storms..

It's amazing that more people do not die every year..

[slor]

3. Oh, I agree with all of what you said...

particularly the living right on the beach part. Homes should be moved inland, and we need to restore dunes, wetlands, marshes, whatever was there before man fucked it up. I also believe global warming is now clearly a fact, and we need to act fast to reduce CO2 in the air. H.R. 3037 would help!