When Is It Time To Move On?
There are various reasons why people choose to live in areas that are vulnerable to natural disasters. Whether it is land passed down through generations, a love for the community, or that’s where you have to live because of your job. Living through hurricane after hurricane is causing many to question if the benefits outweigh the costs of destruction.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has nearly reached a record for the number of storms, with 2005 being the last time we had to move to the Greek alphabet for names. For those living in vulnerable areas, it always raises the question of whether to rebuild again or move somewhere else.
The New York Times recently covered a story on Louisiana residents who are exhausted from the years and effort they have spent rebuilding in order to stay in their community. Mary Canik of Creole, Louisiana lived through the excruciating aftermath of Hurricane Rita 15 years ago, went through the process of rebuilding and lifting her home higher off the ground, and now Hurricane Laura has destroyed it all again. It was once inconceivable for her to think of leaving the home she loves, but with the damage she is now faced with, it is a real possibility.
“If we’re going to build back—we should be only building back in ways that are much more resistant to the impact consequences that occurred the first time. Or we build back in a different location,” says George Washington University Professor and crisis management expert Joseph A. Barbera.
If you live in a vulnerable area, don’t simply hope for the best during hurricane season. You have to be properly insured, and you should have a good understanding of what your potential risks are and how you are going to survive them. History shows us all too well that hope is not a survival strategy. And digging in and starting over in the exact same spot might not be the right thing to do.
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