CW6-3291

From Environmental Technology

a)

This article discusses the damage inflicted on coastal homes and hotels by hurricanes. It also says that people are stubborn about moving, even though prices for land have went sky-high. "Americans have a very stalwart, plant-the-flag attitude about natural disasters, they say, 'No hurricane is going to chase me off my beach.'" These areas are the most prone to natural disasters of this caliber, and usually occur annually, but as long as the government keeps helping residents rebuild in the wake of such disasters, there will always be people inhabiting those areas. As it stands currently, other people are paying to have homes and businesses rebuilt. This is another reason that people aren't concerned about moving anytime soon, and the only way to help change that is to find ways to make them pay for their own damages. But despite all the risks, people will always want to live where they can see the water. Florida state representative Murzin says that the only way to prevent inconceiveable amounts of damage from a natural disaster is to enforce more strict building codes in those affected areas. "The buildings that are being rebuilt or going up should be built to strong building codes," he said. "They should withstand high winds and be high enough to be above the storm surges." In general, people have a blatant disregard for the risks of rebuilding, and the numbers keep on growing...

Reference:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0227_060227_hurricane_coast.html?source=rss