According to an article in the New York Times, Governor Cuomo of New York has proposed using Federal relief funds for Hurricane Sandy to assist coastal residents with storm-proofing their homes or to encourage them to relocate to safer areas by purchasing their damaged properties. For naturalists, and for the American taxpayer, this is a welcome and refreshing approach.
Too often, the mantra "we will rebuild" follows such natural disasters and the tragedy-stricken residents are praised for their courage and resilience. Yet, we humans have long placed ourselves in harms way, building on floodplains, barrier islands, coastal surge zones and fire-prone mountainsides. While that freedom should not be denied, society cannot guarantee protection from the forces of nature and cannot be asked to fund re-construction in areas of high risk.
Hurricane Sandy may be a once in a Century event or a similar storm may strike next year. As our global climate continues to warm, most meteorologists and climatologists predict that intense storms will become more common; this includes tropical cyclones as well as inland systems that produce flooding, tornadoes and blizzards. To develop or rebuild on floodplains, whether coastal or riverine, demonstrates blind faith or naivete that invites future tragedy. As Governor Cuomo so wisely expressed, there are certain landscapes that belong to nature and we exploit them at our own peril.
