People's houses are collapsing into the ocean. FEMA gives them no other option
4 hours ago
- Homes are collapsing into the ocean due to erosion and sea level rise, with no FEMA assistance before collapse.
- Richard Foreman's beach house in Rodanthe, NC, is stranded and uninhabitable; four neighbors' homes have collapsed in two years.
- Over 100 homes on North Carolina's barrier islands are at risk in the next decade, with at least half a dozen in imminent danger.
- FEMA's flood insurance policy pays only after a home collapses, creating a financial disincentive for homeowners to demolish or move homes beforehand.
- Collapsing homes pollute the ocean and leave debris on beaches, with over 480 tons of debris collected by the National Park Service in 18 months.
- Sea level rise is accelerating erosion, especially on the East Coast, and Dare County, NC, is the epicenter of home collapses.
- Demolishing a house costs at least $30,000, and moving it can cost hundreds of thousands, making it unaffordable for many homeowners.
- The Upton-Jones Amendment (1988-1994) previously allowed insurance payouts for demolition or relocation, but was repealed due to abuse and cost concerns.
- A new bipartisan bill seeks to revive Upton-Jones, allowing pre-collapse payouts for moving or demolition, but it is stalled in Congress.
- Alternatives like beach nourishment are costly and temporary, and local governments are frustrated with the lack of federal solutions.
- Without long-term solutions, many homes will likely fall into the ocean, causing pollution and financial losses.