Bama, that was the most concise summary of the issue. Thank you.

National Geographic described the problem in New Orleans in a 1970’s article. They predicted the oil company canals would cause a detrimental change in the natural protection of LA. They outlined how allowing sediment to be funneled off the continental shelf was not a good idea. They illustrated the problems with the estuaries losing their footing because sediment was leveed away instead of deposited. It was pretty clear to me and I was in elementary school.

When land appeared on Dauphin Island, greed allowed people to claim it then sell it. If you want to build on it, be prepared to self insure or build something that is not going to take you down with it when it goes. It will go.

Freddie, building on the shoreline at 16 ft elevation should require flood insurance. My parents were required to have flood insurance by their mortgage company 30 years ago. They are actually 3 ft higher than their neighbors who chose NOT TO KEEP insurance yet had their hand out for the $118K grant. The coverage cost my parents about $250 per year. The neighbors were perfectly capable of paying that per year. They were greedy and we bailed them out.

One of the most flood prone areas of the US is Sacramento CA. I dont hear people yelling that they should leave the area. I dont think it’s about not building in an area that MAY flood, it’s about protecting yourself and your neighbor with diligence and responsibility.

I don’t think anyone understands what I said to begin with.Yes we have a home on the island we have insurance.Our house is a vacation home.I said from the get go I was sad for people who live on the island.I just thouhgt it was sad that people thought it was good for them.I understand why you guys feel that way.It probally was not a good idea to rebuild there,but what can you do.Could we have sold our lots?You take a chance!!!!Just like you guys said about x flood zone that washed away.Anything can happen anywhere….

I agree with FastFred. If when you are purchasing a home and you are told that it is a no flood zone and that it is not at as high of a risk of getting washed away, then a storm comes and you lose everything, that is not entirely your fault. That would be one of those instances where I was saying that we try to help those who truly need it. My parents bought a piece of land right before my step-dad was deployed and the real-estate agent told them about how good of a deal it was and how the properties out there were going quick. So they purchased the land with intentions of building when he returned. Once he returned they were talking to insurance companies on what it would cost to insure a home that was built there and they told them that they would not insure it because it is a flood prone area. So here they are stuck with land that yes they can build on, but will not be able to insure if they build there. So now they are stuck with this land that they can pretty much do nothing with, because they know if they put all the effort and work into building their house, the chances and risk are just too high to do so. They do not want to build a house that is probably just going to get destroyed within the first few hurricane seasons or any bad rainfall. I mean what is the point of building somewhere you are more than likely going to be spending at least 75% of the time constantly rebuilding it? You are fortunate that you did not purchase that home.

Living on a barrier island is a privilege most folks can’t afford.  It is not some type of inalienable right guaranteed by the constitution.  If you are willing to take those kind of risks, then don’t look to taxpayers to bail you out when nature takes her course.

I’m not really big on developing barrier islands, wetlands, marshlands, etc.  They all serve very important purposes and when man starts messing around with them there are always consequences to pay.

southfan…I keep going back a little to my other posts,I do believe if you repeat you’re mistake it should be you’re problem.You’re question about the house you had intended to buy,as far as I am concerned you’re Realtors which you should be able to trust was giving you what I would have considered sound advice.In this case,I wouldn’t have bought flood insurance either.I would have to say that I would think you should get assistance.It wouldn’t have been like you rebuilt in a area that you had already lost a home and knew it could happen again.I don’t live in MS and never have,but I have a Daughter that now lives in Long Beach,but didn’t during Katrina,she lost all…and it was the same situation with her as you’re parents went through.

Sorry Fred. I just kept ranting. I didnt mean to insinuate you wanted others to pay for those who didnt care to keep insurance. My parents paid flood insurance for 30 years and got a minimum on their house and contents. Their neighbor did not pay and was given 118K in grants from FEMA. That’s my problem with equity.

I will say this, I was in the process of signing a contract on a house that was not in a flood zone. It was on the MS Gulf Coast. All the mortgage companies told me how lucky i was, my insurance company said i was lucky. I wouldnt need flood insurance. For some reason, I chose not to build. The house was washed through in Katrina. If i had built, should i have gotten paid for the stupidity?

The west end of the island constantly shifts around and everyone knows that so if someone wants to build on it they should be responsible for their own decisions.
It’s the price you pay and pay you will. (eventually) jmo.

southfan1981….I did not make the statement you should have assistance or coverage if you don’t pay in to the system.I am saying if you build there,get insurance,or the other thing I said was,you don’t have to have insurance if you out right own you’re home,but don’t expect me or others to rebuild you’re home if you seen fit to build in a area that is know to get flood/hurricane damage.I am excatley 9-miles from the beach,and I am in the so called flood zone that never floods,no one ever leaves this neighborhood during any of the hurricanes,we have had very little or no damage from the worst storms.Whats up with the Freddie thing ? Do I know you ? There are very few people that call me by Freddie.

I agree. Assuming that everyone commenting is from here and anyone that is from here is angry just shows your narrow mindedness. If you have ever been here after a hurricane has hit you have seen how quick most are to lend a helping hand to those who truly need it. However, if you are really set on rebuilding your home in the same place it keeps getting destroyed than that is on you. Not the people that actually have the sense to build where their homes are much more safe. Why should we have to fork out money to something that is not even going to benefit us? Money is already tight enough. We need the money ourselves to support our families and prepare our homes for the hurricane season. Just because our homes are at less of a risk of being destroyed does not make our homes any less important. No one is giving me and my family the money to make my home any safer for this hurricane season. Building your home right one the beach, you know the risk you are taking. So when purchasing the home you should automatically add in the extra cost of protecting your home. Do we ever want to see a family lose their home? Of course not, but if you keep putting yourself in harms way than there is not much we can do to help.

...d.i.,,,had always been a screw-up-town…lol…built your own berm…!!...lol…