The Aftermath of Sandy

Since hurricane Sandy hit the northeast a month ago, the damage tallies have been accumulated, and the various states are now asking the federal government for funds to pay for all of the costs incurred. Similar payments were made to Louisiana after Katrina and in all of the other storms, but the scope of the current requests is extraordinary. New York and New Jersey together want more than 80 billion dollars even though the damage done by the storm was supposedly less than that total. Throw in Connecticut and Pennsylvania and the number just gets higher.

It will be an unpopular view, but I think that the answer ought to be no. Federal help can be given, but the idea that the feds will pay for all costs associated with the storm is a foolish one. People who build on the beach put themselves and their property at risk. People who locate in flood plains or on earthquake faults or in places that get hit by mudslides or forest fires should keep that in mind before they decide where to live. After that, there is insurance, a necessary cost of living. Maybe Congress could pass a law requiring home owners and renters to get insurance covering floods, earthquakes and other sorts of natural disasters. Anyone who fails to get the insurance could then pay a tax which would be used to fund disaster relief. It would be Obamacare for natural disasters. After all, we already have intrusive government.