In the past, single homes and small communities have been moved out of flood prone areas or lost their flood insurance because of repeated claims. A few years ago a levee protecting thousands of acres of Missouri farmland was blown up to save Cairo, Illinois. Cairo has been a dilapidated wreck for several decades. So why do we continue to spend billions year after year on reviving communities and homes that are flooded several times each decade?

            We have spent hundreds of billions to build levees and dikes to try to reduce flooding from our creeks and rivers. Those with the lowest levees gets flooded. Much of New Orleans is below sea level and the Mississippi River. We spend billions to raise and rebuild levees, install new pumps, and rebuild barrier vegetation. New Orleans just missed the worst of Ida and still was damaged and powerless. The area to the west was destroyed and flooded. We will spend billions again for Ida and hurricane season isn’t even half over.

            Hurricanes are getting stronger because the Gulf is getting warmer. We are getting more hurricanes because the Atlantic is warmer. If they don’t come into the Gulf they sweep up the East Coast flooding the states well inland.

            We know it is only going to get worse and lot more expensive. Isn’t it time to say move out of those areas that are going to flood? We will pay for the move because it will be cheaper than rebuilding every year or so. Some of Louisiana rebuilds every year. Isn’t it time to quit wasting money?