Yes, I may be a Jerk, but...

[pacnw]

was watching the news and they had a story on a NJ neighborhood that is flooded, AGAIN.

now I do not know, but I hope that the tax payer, me/us, is not paying to rebuild these homes with flood insurance premiums.

I just do not get the stupidity in rebuilding in the same place that a disaster has happened and expecting a different outcome in the future. :gah:

they said this is almost an annual occurrence, if it was not then no rant.

I have lived in earthquake area, currently in fire area, but never flood(other than 500 year flood plane) area. does that make it a different decision to continue living there and rebuilding without any modifications?

I took precautions in the earthquake and fire areas and there are things to do in flood areas, but it seems none have been done.

This also goes out to those in NO that live below sea level and had that recent disaster.

those that did not return, maybe they can't due to emotional reasons. I would hope those are the smart ones and decided it was not too bright to move back and expect anything different.

Again, a personal rant that seems to goes to the mindset. I don't get it and just have to say/ask why!!!!

[chuckcrj]

I agree with you from an area that has never to my knowledge flooded.

But if the place you lived flooded and ruined all your possessions except the lot where your house stood. Now you don't own anything but a lot that is going to be impossible to sell.

Would you just abandon it and start from scratch somewhere else? Or try to rebuild and hope for the best?

I agree it doesn't seem to make sense to rebuild where it will just flood again!

[phbsales]

Consider this......

The entire city of New Orleans is built in a swamp at least 5' BELOW sea level.

http://www.floridadude.com/NewOrleansCartoon.jpg

[skibme]

Everywhere people live they have issues.

[flange]

I live in a town that regularly floods here in pa. A few years back when the big one hit, it flooded numerous homes and business bad, up to the second floor. This used to not happen, but now does due to runoff upstream into the river that used to go in the ground. too many homes and roads. I am not waterfront, so have no issues, but those who do were given a choice a few years back. It went like this....low interest loans to raise your property above flood level, or no money to fix it. most places took the loans, raised their properties, and renovated to make really nice water view properties. First floors are relegated to storage and play areas. When high water is predicted, they simply move their stuff upstairs and enjoy.

up there in north jersey, most areas are very expensive to live, with very high taxes. many of those folks cannot affford to leave, or realize it doesnt happen but once or twice per year, and the rest is great living. many of those folks commute to new york to work to earn very high salaries, so it isnt a big deal. its like anything, it is what you are used to.

[coolwhip]

Just build a 20 foot concrete wall around the property and sand bag the entrance in case of flood.

[midhvac]

Went to California about 30 years ago, and saw all these $$$$ houses that had slid down the hill during a mudslide. They put em right back there in the same spot afterwards.

Sometimes I wonder if ants are smarter than people. I mean like if you take a hammer to an anthill, full of em, they don't usually build another anthill there.

[ga-hvac-tech]

Went to California about 30 years ago, and saw all these $$$$ houses that had slid down the hill during a mudslide. They put em right back there in the same spot afterwards.

Sometimes I wonder if ants are smarter than people. I mean like if you take a hammer to an anthill, full of em, they don't usually build another anthill there.

Just for fun: Ants do not spend tens of thousands of $$$ on the dirt... and have to do something with it... they just invade YOUR dirt... :gah:

[midhvac]

Just for fun: Ants do not spend tens of thousands of $$$ on the dirt... and have to do something with it... they just invade YOUR dirt... :gah:

I hate to differ with you, but when I was lookin at one of em with my magnifyin glass I seen him carryin a little warranty deed. :LOL:

[ga-hvac-tech]

I hate to differ with you, but when I was lookin at one of em with my magnifyin glass I seen him carryin a little warranty deed. :LOL:

Hooo-boy... :whistle: I can see this now... We go to 'ant court'... and are charged with some imaginary govt offense for pouring the used motor oil into the mound... They produce an 'ant lawyer' who sues me and gets title to my dirt...

And SCOTUS backs them up under a new EPA mandate... Now we both know if I was a registered Dem/Liberal, who gave lots of $$$ to the cause... the court would rule in my favor... :grin2:

BTW: Just how close did you hold that magnifying glass, and did you focus the sun on the little critter?

[pacnw]

I live in a town that regularly floods here in pa. A few years back when the big one hit, it flooded numerous homes and business bad, up to the second floor. This used to not happen, but now does due to runoff upstream into the river that used to go in the ground. too many homes and roads. I am not waterfront, so have no issues, but those who do were given a choice a few years back. It went like this....low interest loans to raise your property above flood level, or no money to fix it. okay, that is part of the idea/solution I was looking for most places took the loans, raised their properties, and renovated to make really nice water view properties. First floors are relegated to storage and play areas. When high water is predicted, they simply move their stuff upstairs and enjoy. and this is the rest of it.

up there in north jersey, most areas are very expensive to live, with very high taxes. many of those folks cannot affford to leave, or realize it doesnt happen but once or twice per year, and the rest is great living. many of those folks commute to new york to work to earn very high salaries, so it isnt a big deal. its like anything, it is what you are used to.

I just see these homes that have flooded before and they say they will rebuild and change nothing.

I can see rebuilding if that is the mindset and you do not want to move, but why build the exact same way and not do as above and try to limit the damage in the future?

[midhvac]

I just see these homes that have flooded before and they say they will rebuild and change nothing.

I can see rebuilding if that is the mindset and you do not want to move, but why build the exact same way and not do as above and try to limit the damage in the future?

That's the part I don't get either.
But I do recall that the govt used to subsidize flood ins. premiums. So you pd a pretty low premium to insure it. Each time it flooded, the ins. pd enough to rebuild, but obviously not enough to pay for preventing it from flooding again. Don't know if the govt still subsidizes it or not.
Remember that the mortgage co's are involved too.