USA: Answer to rising waters? Raise the house

By Aaron Holmes

[...]

While elevating fully-intact homes like [David Noah’s, a homeowner,] is uncommon, city officials say it may soon become more popular. Flooding is a perennial threat for low-lying coastal communities in St. Petersburg, and federal flood insurance premiums have risen steadily for years — a cost that experts predict will only intensify as flooding becomes more frequent in years to come.

Meanwhile, raising pre-existing homes is generally faster and more cost-effective than the common practice of demolition and reconstruction, according to Noah Taylor, floodplain coordinator for the city of St. Petersburg.

To help protect more homes, the city is encouraging qualified homeowners to apply for a federal Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant, a program that pays for renovations on homes that have been repeatedly damaged by flooding.

But the program is highly competitive and the Federal Emergency Management Agency imposes bureaucratic and financial obstacles that can make it hard for homeowners to access the grants, Taylor said.

[...]