Flood Insurance | Reason Archives (original) (raw)

A person in a FEMA vest walking through a recent disaster zone. | Polaris/Newscom

FEMA

What Happens When FEMA Buys Your House?

As hurricane damage mounts, the government is buying—and sometimes seizing—homes in flood-prone areas, sparking concerns over property rights and accusations of discrimination.

Josiah Neeley | 10.11.2024 1:50 PM

Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, speaks at the White House. | Al Drago - Pool via CNP/picture alliance / Consolidated News Photos/Newscom

Economics

Washington Worsened Hurricane Helene's Destruction

How the National Flood Insurance Program subsidizes living in high-risk flood zones.

Jack Nicastro | 9.30.2024 5:14 PM

John Stossel is seen in front of a beach house | Stossel TV

Government Waste

The Feds Shouldn't Subsidize Fancy, Risky Beach Houses

Government is "promoting bad behavior," says Sen. Rand Paul. He's right.

John Stossel | 1.10.2024 12:30 AM

A pink sky with palm trees | Photo: jordan-mcqueen/Unsplash

Florida

Is Florida Finally Fixing Its Broken Homeowners Insurance Market?

Floridians spend millions litigating insurance disputes after hurricanes. There's a better way.

Christian Britschgi | 12.12.2023 6:00 AM

Enrique Tarrio | Pedro Portal/TNS/Newscom

January 6

Do the Proud Boys Deserve To Be in Prison Forever?

Plus: A listener question concerning porn verification laws.

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, C.J. Ciaramella, and Joe Lancaster | 9.5.2023 4:28 PM

A house collapsed onto one side as a result of damage from Hurricane Sandy. | Anthony Aneese Totah Jr | Dreamstime.com

Government Spending

Subsidized Flood Insurance Makes Storm Damage Worse

It's high time for Congress to end a program that routinely goes into debt providing subsidies to wealthy people living in high-risk areas.

Joe Lancaster | 8.30.2023 1:35 PM

A coastal Connecticut home affected by Hurricane Sandy, betwixt a 100-dollar bill, against a yellow background. | Illustration: Lex Villena; Douglas Healey/Polaris/Newscom

FEMA

Wealthy Connecticut Residents Received Millions in Federal Dollars After Hurricane Sandy

It shouldn't be the federal government's responsibility to protect wealthy homeowners from the inevitable.

Joe Lancaster | 12.29.2022 4:45 PM

John Stossel | Stossel TV

Hurricanes

Here's What the Media Get Wrong About Hurricanes

No, a big storm does not require big government.

John Stossel | 10.5.2022 12:30 AM

Trailer crushes Mercedes during Hurricane Ian | Robin Loznak/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Hurricanes

Storms and Reforms

Plus: The editors unpack a philosophical question from a listener concerning foreign policy.

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and C.J. Ciaramella | 10.3.2022 5:30 PM

Hurricane Ian | Douglas R. Clifford/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Hurricanes

Government Subsidies Encouraged Millions To Move Into Hurricane Ian's Destructive Path

Plus: Reason livestream on right-wing populism, the government can't solve the fentanyl crisis, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 9.29.2022 9:32 AM

RodantheNewscom | Cover Images/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Climate Change

Sea Level To Rise One Foot by 2050, Says NOAA

Another good reason to stop subsidizing people to live at the beach.

Ronald Bailey | 2.16.2022 5:10 PM

roadmapDreamstime | Pavlo I | Dreamstime.com

Climate Change

Biden's 'Climate-Resilient Economy' Roadmap Is Largely Superfluous

Businesses, investors, and markets are already adapting to climate change without federal help.

Ronald Bailey | 10.19.2021 4:30 PM

reason-house | Photoeye/Dreamstime.com

Flood Insurance

House Democrats' Housing Bill Includes a $20 Billion Bailout of Federal Flood Insurance

A bill intended to make America's housing stock more climate-resilient also includes a big effective subsidy for the properties most exposed to the risks of climate change.

Christian Britschgi | 9.10.2021 1:50 PM

krtphotoslive887382 | Daniel Mears/TNS/Newscom

Flood Insurance

Drown the Federal Flood Insurance Program

Why is the government encouraging people to live in dangerous, flood-prone areas?

Revana Sharfuddin | 7.26.2021 3:40 PM

Climate Change

Senator Schumer Protects Wealthy Landowners from Paying Risk-Based Flood Insurance Premiums

Effective climate adaptation depends upon effective price signals. So why is the Senate Majority Leader standing in the way?

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 3.25.2021 10:53 PM

SandyDamageDreamstime | Zhukovsky | Dreamstime.com

Flood Insurance

Schumer Insists on Keeping Beachfront Bailouts for Wealthy Americans' Vacation Homes

The senate majority leader is stymying long-needed increases in federal flood insurance rates.

Ronald Bailey | 3.19.2021 2:50 PM

Billions and billions lost | NFIP

Flood Insurance

Private Flood Insurers Chastised for Not Insuring Houses Likely To Be Flooded

It's simple: You should not build your house in places where you can't get private flood insurance.

Ronald Bailey | 12.4.2019 2:55 PM

uigphotos280067 | Peter Bennett/Citizen of the Planet/Newscom

Natural Disasters

California Follows the Disastrous Flood Insurance Path to Fire Insurance Fiasco

If market-rate wildfire insurance is too expensive for homeowners, maybe that's telling us something about the risks of living amidst pretty tinder.

J.D. Tuccille | 8.5.2019 11:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Hurricanes

Is Climate Change Making Hurricanes More Destructive?

Not yet in the United States, new studies suggest

Ronald Bailey | 1.17.2019 10:20 AM

Large image on homepages | Wes Paz/TNS/Newscom

Flood Insurance

Senate Votes to Extend Federal Flood Insurance Funding

It's a regressive, debt-ridden program that transfers wealth from regular Americans to the rich.

Nikhil Sridhar | 8.3.2018 2:05 PM

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Congress

How the National Flood Insurance Program Wastes Taxpayer Dollars

An expensive tutorial on the perils of government interaction.

Steve Chapman | 7.23.2018 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages | National Weather Service

Hurricanes

Stop Encouraging People to Live in Dangerous Places

Who will have the courage in the face of tragedy to change the government's disastrous policies?

Matt Welch | 9.18.2017 10:05 AM

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Hurricanes

Hurricane Harvey and Climate Change

Extreme weather events attribution science yields murky results

Ronald Bailey | 8.29.2017 2:15 PM

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Flood Insurance

Hurricane Harvey and the National Flood Insurance Fiasco

Don't build in flood plains, and especially don't rebuild in flood plains

Ronald Bailey | 8.28.2017 4:59 PM

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Louisiana

Rebuilding After Louisiana Floods Will Require Government Permission Slips

And new federal regulations could add to the cost of rebuilding or force some residents to abandon their homes.

Eric Boehm | 8.24.2016 4:50 PM

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Policy

How the Government Subsidizes Unsustainable Development

'The rest of us are assuming all of the risks.'

Jesse Walker | 1.15.2015 3:08 PM

Politics

Senate Passes Bill Delaying Flood Insurance Hikes

Why should costs be connected to risks?

Reason Staff | 1.30.2014 6:45 PM

Flood Insurance

Since They "Built Where the Government Told Them," They Demand Government Flood Insurance Subsidies Be Restored

Ronald Bailey | 1.30.2014 2:21 PM

Large image on homepages | cc

Policy

Troubled Waters

Flood insurance washes out

Brian Doherty | 12.31.2013 7:00 AM

Policy

More Flood Insurance Follies in Congress

Ronald Bailey | 7.17.2013 10:56 AM

Policy

Feds Subsidize Rebuilding on Risky Coastlines

Cost of risk externalized for builders

Reason Staff | 6.20.2013 8:04 AM

Flood Insurance

Mother Jones Warns Global Warming Will Boost National Flood Insurance Premiums—Misses Point

Ronald Bailey | 6.14.2013 4:52 PM

Superstorm Sandy

New York Times Correctly Denounces Post-Sandy Fed Bailout of Churches, Synagogues, and Mosques

Ronald Bailey | 3.5.2013 2:03 PM

Policy

35,000 NYC Properties Added to Flood Maps

Will affect insurance rates, zoning rules

Reason Staff | 1.28.2013 2:08 PM

Flood Insurance

Sierra Club Says National Flood Insurance Is Totally "Wack"

Ronald Bailey | 11.29.2012 12:20 PM

Flood Insurance

National Flood Insurance is Insane

Ronald Bailey | 11.29.2012 10:10 AM