Communities on the Edge
Matt Santiago staff writer On average flooding causes 15.2 billion dollars in damage annually, but the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says as land around levee systems erodes that yearly average could increase to 24.3 billion dollars. The CPRA says that increase could be “catastrophic” in other areas of the economy. Economic troubles caused by flooding are the result of increasingly strong hurricanes, which are strengthened by a shrinking coast with an ever decreasing buffer zone from water. And as the buffer zone decreases, water continues to move closer. “Deterioration of coastal marshes means these levees are increasingly exposed to open water,” according to the Coast 2050: Toward a Sustainable Coastal Louisiana report. “All infrastructure along the unleveed corridors is subject to sinking and exposure to waves, tides, and storm surges.” That destruction has caused insurance costs to increase across Louisiana’s coastal regions. Galiano resident Mary Gisclair saw her home owner’s policy double in price recently and flood insurance more than triple in the last seven years. “My home owners policy, which used to cost $2,000 is now $4,000,” she says. “And following [Hurricane] Ida, flood insurance went from $300 up to $1,000 now.” “My home owners policy, which used to cost $2,000 is now $4,000.” Mary Gisclair A closer look Communities on the Edge Mark Bourgeois staff https://youtu.be/2Ifq1euZW2whttps://youtu.be/hLM3qRO8sq8https://youtu.be/WkxmsYF-lCk
The Business of Land Loss
Brogan Burns features editor On average flooding causes 15.2 billion dollars in damage annually, but the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says as land around levee systems erodes that yearly average could increase to 24.3 billion dollars. The CPRA says that increase could be “catastrophic” in other areas of the economy. Economic troubles caused by flooding are the result of increasingly strong hurricanes, which are strengthened by a shrinking coast with an ever decreasing buffer zone from water. And as the buffer zone decreases, water continues to move closer. “Deterioration of coastal marshes means these levees are increasingly exposed to open water,” according to the Coast 2050: Toward a Sustainable Coastal Louisiana report. “All infrastructure along the unleveed corridors is subject to sinking and exposure to waves, tides, and storm surges.” That destruction has caused insurance costs to increase across Louisiana’s coastal regions. Galiano resident Mary Gisclair saw her home owner’s policy double in price recently and flood insurance more than triple in the last seven years. “My home owners policy, which used to cost $2,000 is now $4,000,” she says. “And following [Hurricane] Ida, flood insurance went from $300 up to $1,000 now.” “My home owners policy, which used to cost $2,000 is now $4,000.” Mary Gisclair A rise in prices can be attributed to the cost of rebuilding, which has influenced the price of claims for insurance companies. “The cost to rebuild or repair a home or business has gone up significantly, and this is a factor used to determine premiums,” according to America’s Flood. “That price increase translates into an increase in the cost of claims for flood insurance companies, forcing them to increase premiums further.” Gisclair says it is hurting people who struggle to keep up with rising costs. “I drive through and there are still houses with tarps on them [from Ida] because either they didn’t receive their claim or haven’t found contractors,” Gisclair says. Following the hurricane, watching homes and buildings left damaged, she says she realized how hard the effects of insurance increases were on others. “It’s a shame because a lot of people can’t afford to pay an extra $2,000 every year.” Businesses Depend on Coastal Land Troy Daigle video editor https://youtu.be/3p8seLONawAhttps://youtu.be/i_zk72Lu_Kk