Dear deer
Judge: Don’t build at species’ risk
A judge blocked FEMA from issuing flood insurance for new construction in areas in The Keys that are habitat for threatened or endangered animals and plants. Environmental groups hope the move has ripple effects
A federal judge has blocked new development in some sensitive wild areas of the Florida Keys from receiving federal flood insurance, calling the program a threat to endangered species such as the Key deer and Lower Keys marsh rat.
I don’t know about the Key deer, but here in Jersey we’d be willing to ship a few deer to the Keys if it’ll make anyone happy. Heck, I’d throw in a few Canada geese, too.
It only took 25 years for the case to reach a decision on the Florida court case.
As for government-issued flood insurance, it’s time it becomes an endangered species.
You are certainly right about the government issued flood insurance. In my neck of Florida, folks are building mansions right out into the marsh. The must be only about a foot above sea level. If a storm – just a nor’easter, not even a hurricane, blows the water the right way, we taxpayers will be on the hook for millions of dollars.
These huge houses are being built where nothing has ever been built before because private insurance companies could see the risk.