Are solutions possible?

Congress passed a bill in 2012 to make NFIP premiums reflect risk, but essentially reversed those changes two years later because of intense political pressure from homeowners and developers. Cities have tried buying up and demolishing properties in flood zones, enacting tougher building codes, and erecting warning signs to show how high previous floods have risen. But they often face fierce resistance from developers and politicians, particularly in places such as Florida, where real estate development is integral to the economy. Another issue is that many Republican politicians continue to downplay the dangers of climate change. Under a directive from Gov. Rick Scott, Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, for example, reportedly prohibited its 3,200 employees from using the words “climate change” or “global warming” in any official communications. But many hope Harvey—and Hurricane Irma, which pummeled Florida two weeks later— will jolt politicians and the public into adopting new policies to mitigate the risks of severe flooding. “We know it’s more cost-effective to take these actions up front instead of just waiting for a disaster to strike,” says Rebecca Hammer of the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council. “It’s just a matter of political will and funding.”