Across the U.S., States Bracing for More Disasters

State lawmakers across the country are calling for huge investments to mitigate the effects of wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, droughts and other natural disasters that have become more devastating and frequent. Following extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, a years-long drought in California, and severe flooding in the Midwest, legislators in many states say it’s long past time to treat such events as the new normal – and invest accordingly. Many of the states are seeking for money from the federal government to help with their projects. Texas and South Carolina, have applied for federal dollars citing “changing coastal conditions” or “unpredictability.” Texas wants to invest the federal money in flood control, removing homes from high-risk areas and helping local governments pay for projects. Louisiana hopes to use federal dollars to better map flooding areas. The state already is undertaking its own sweeping plan to limit development and move residents out of areas most prone to flooding, while improving infrastructure in communities on higher ground that are likely to receive displaced populations from neighboring towns. Some states’ proposals would borrow massive amounts of money to pay for future work, create new surcharges to bankroll permanent disaster accounts, or shift development away from areas prone to disaster. All those plans would come at a cost to state budgets or taxpayers, but supporters say the spending is necessary. In Washington state, the commissioner of public lands is leading the push for a bill that would establish a dedicated account to help prevent and fight wildfires. A new surcharge on home and auto insurance policies, estimated to cost the average household $1 a month, would raise an estimated $63 million a year. These are just sample of some of the many efforts being undertaken by states to address this enormous challenge. Read the article at the Los Angeles Times.