Little-known state law could prevent some Ike victims from rebuilding.

[Blue Diadem]

Some Ike victims may not be allowed to rebuild
Little-known state law could put Texas beach home owners in a bind

GALVESTON, Texas - Hundreds of people whose beachfront homes were wrecked by Hurricane Ike may be barred from rebuilding under a little-noticed Texas law. And even those whose houses were spared could end up seeing them condemned by the state.

Now here's the saltwater in the wound: It could be a year before the state tells these homeowners what they may or may not do.

Worse, if these homeowners do lose their beachfront property, they may get nothing in compensation from the state.

snip:
Over the years, the state has repeatedly invoked the law to seize houses in cases where a storm eroded a beach so badly that a home was suddenly sitting on public property. The aftermath of Ike could see the biggest such use of the law in Texas history.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26780578
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I think there's going to be a lot of upset people over that. Article said they were warned before they built and that most of the homes are vacation homes.

[HereSince1628]

1. I remember this being on Houston TV back in 83 or 84

The beach was also considered a public road.

[Blue Diadem]

3. Yep and if the beach moves inland from surge erosion

even if the house survived, they still lose the house. That would stink but I guess if they knew when they built it, they really can't complain. The people who have purchased homes from original owners though may be in for a surprise if that wasn't disclosed.

Hurricane Alicia was the 83 storm..they said that was the last time the law was used against a large number of homeowners. You have a good memory!

[bsdetector]

2. Something like this kind of resolution is necessary. What happens when global warming

moves the shoreline half a mile "inland"...do the people living on the waterfront then have some obligation to compensate the previous occupiers of seaside land? I don't know the answer but somebody has to sort out these things...

[JerseygirlCT]

4. Yeah, I'm afraid the bottom line is that

far too much development has been allowed along many of our beaches. They're not intended to support it. This is a sort of draconian way to allow that to correct, but in the bigger picture, (and much as I dream about a beach house, myself), there's just too much development, and too much of it not built for where it is.

But boy, the situation stinks for those there!