By Allie Olsonoski and Rachel Rhode, Environmental Defense Fund
Floods are a growing challenge for communities in the USA, especially in coastal areas. Frequent and extreme storms, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and lowering land (decrease) people and property expose a higher risk.
While many states and places are actively working on reducing the risk of communities, large infrastructure solutions such as dikes and walls are not always possible or practical – especially in rural areas.
In many cases, a cheaper solution is not to block the water, but to adapt to it. An approach that has risen to the top is to use “non -structural” practices, namely at home.
Since more and more states are starting to explore home increase programs, they have to urge local commitment strategies in the communities in which they work in order to be successful.
Home Elevation: a non -structural solution with high potential
For decades, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USAace) has been the leading agency that has been working with communities and financing efforts to reduce the flood risk through dike, flood walls and ecosystem restoration. From the 1970s, USA also started other solutions that reduce them Consequences of floods instead of stopping the danger itself – solutions that they refer to as “non -structural solutions”.
While moving is often the safest option, if a restoration project is not possible, it is not always feasible or desired – especially in communities with deep cultural roots or generation family houses. Alternatively, raising houses above the flood can remain the residents on the spot and maintain the tissue of their communities and at the same time reduce the risk of loss of life and costly damage. Nowadays, more than 100,000 structures have been identified across the country as candidates for non-leading non-von structural approaches in the United States.
For state and local managers, Home increase programs with USACE offer a valuable addition to plans for reducing floods. The increase in houses can be inexpensive and often implemented with less permissible hurdles than large -scale structural efforts. However, they require other implementation strategies.
In contrast to other infrastructure projects, Home was working with a large cohort of people, whereby participation is completely voluntary. Success depends on building trust with home owners, understanding their needs and offering transparent communication throughout the process.
A case study from Southwest Coast Louisiana
In the communities of Calcasiu, Cameron and Vermilion in the southwest of Louisiana, the risks of the floods are strong. These deep, flat coastal areas are faced with increasing threats from the hurricane storm flood, the increase in sea level, coastal erosion and the loss of wetlands. The people, the local economy, the natural environment and the cultural heritage – all of which are deeply connected to the country – are at risk.
In 2016, the USAACE, in conjunction with the coastal protection and restoration authority in Louisiana, identified around 3,900 houses and other properties with a serious flood risk, and in 2023 offered authorized residents the opportunity to increase their houses free of charge (entirely through federal financing). Despite the availability of support, the applications were lower than expected and only one house has been increased so far.
In order to better understand what the residents hold back, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) carried out several focus groups and interviews with local homeowners and companies in the communities.
The results showed a clear request from the residents to make their houses safer. “I don't want to go through what I did again,” said one participant.
At the same time, the study showed significant challenges that had to be addressed. Many residents expressed skepticism and distrust – especially after disasters and other federal recreation programs. Many residents were overwhelmed because their houses are deeply personal and concerned concerns about justification, insurance, security, access to older residents and much more. It is important that the settings in the communities were different and emphasize the need for a locally tailor -made engagement.
What states can do to build successful home increase programs
The study showed that the Outreach of the Home Elevation Programs led by the USA is not optional, which is not optional. The success depends on trust, transparency and individual binding. Local and state sponsors who work with USAACE in Home Elevation or other non -structural programs should ask the USA to record the following strategies as part of the project:
- Start with local knowledge: Successful commitment begins with listening. Work with Community members to understand history, demography and concerns.
- Communicate clearly and consistently: The residents need precise, timely and easy -to -understand information on a number of topics, from costs to the process to the physical effects of the increase.
- Stay present during the entire process: Do not disappear after a resident expressed interest or requested that it can maintain the dynamics and build up long-term relationships.
- Use various two-way communication channels: Information should be shared through a mix of mailers, social media, advertisements and personal public relations work. Community members should have the same room to ask questions and exchange experiences.
- Partner with trustworthy local managers: Churches, non -profit organizations and community representatives can help to close understanding and trust. “The best we have found is that people will trust the local voices more than they will trust in the federal government, which they have never met before,” said one resident.
- If possible, enter into personally: Personal conversations make a difference, especially in communities with previous negative experiences. Show that interested residents have completed surveys for a tangible understanding of the process.
Reducing the flood risk requires layer strategies. The collection of home is a powerful tool in which structural barriers such as dikes and sea walls may not be practical or desirable. Through the partnership with USAC to build strong strategies for commitment to the community, state and local managers can get this approach on site. The time to act takes before the next storm tests our defense.
Allie Olsonoski is a project manager for air -conditioned coasts and water catchment areas in the environmental defense fund and Rachel Rhode is a manager of the climate of the climate resistant coast and water sheath in Florida. This play was originally published at https://blogs.edf.org/grownreturns/2025/03/how-states-can-sucescescescept-implement-home-levation-projects-cjects-the-sus-wary-corps-of-engineer. Banner photo: A house is increased to prevent future floods (Mike Moore, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons).
Register for the penetrating Sea newsletter Visit here. To support the penetrating sea, Click here Make donation. If you are interested in submitting an opinion to the sea involved, there is e -mail editor Nathan Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. To learn more about why floods take place, you can see the short video below.