By Catherine Powell
With 1,350 miles of coastline,
you’d think that Florida would be bullish when it came to addressing coastal
flooding caused by global warming. Yet
until recently, not only did the state legislature do little to address the
fears of those who live near the coast, but it refused to entertain discussion
about sea level rise. All that changed
when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills into law last week that
pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in flood control projects. While some who live near the coast have said
it’s about time, others who’ve seen water in their neighborhoods rise on clear
days during high tide think it’s too little too late. So severe is the threat of flooding in some
coastal communities that three Florida insurers recently announced they wouldn’t
renew some 53,000 homeowner’s policies.
More than an inconvenience, this has left many homeowners scrambling to
find coverage just as hurricane season begins.
If you live on or near the coast and are wondering what you should do to
protect your property from flooding, here are my top-10 tips.