Regular readers will recall that last week we established that more than half of the population of the United States lives in a region defined as coastal.And more are moving in every day.
The state with the fastest growing coastal population is, of course, Florida – which is just about all coast anyway. And though I don’t have the figures, I bet Alabama’s southern shore isn’t far behind. It might even be tops if Dauphin Island’s demographics didn’t mess things up (watch for more on this later).
Coastal areas you wouldn’t expect are also pulling in the people. The second fastest coast-growth is up in Alaska. Never would have guessed that. Further south, folks are crowding in around the Great Lakes. The Atlantic shoreline has become a string of resorts, exclusive islands, and gated communities, nestled in and among population centers like Charleston, Norfolk, Boston, and New York. And the West Coast is much the same.
Down here on the Gulf it seems like every square foot of coastal soil is either built on or bought to be.
And all of it, and the people on it, are in danger.
What are the coastal folks in Alaska gonna do when the next tsunami hits?
What are lakeshore squatting Midwesterners gonna do when the gales of November come roaring off Huron and Superior?
And what are residents of the crowded Atlantic and Gulf coasts gonna do when another Ivan strikes?
How about head for high ground?
Or the upper floors.
Right. Since states can’t seem to build enough roads and bridges to bring folks out, hurricane experts are suggesting, get ready, "vertical evacuation."
Back to the future.
‘Cause vertical evacuation is what they used to do.
My little beach community is located on a sandy bluff, about 30 feet above sea level, and on top of it is a grove of oak trees — hence the name "Seagrove" — though Gulfgrove would have been better.
But I’m not complaining.
And back in the old days, when the barometer was falling and the wind was coming up, local folks headed for the grove, where they knew the storm surge could never reach. (If Seagrove gets flooded there will be sharks swimming the streets of Dothan).
But there are no bluffs and groves at Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Panama City, so experts are suggesting that rather than risk the roads, it might be better if residents find the closest high-rise instead.
Now there is something to be said for that.
Reports are that the newer condos weathered Ivan pretty well. The units on the lower levels washed away just like they were supposed to, while the pillars that supported the upper floors continued to do their job, just like they were supposed to.
You were as safe up there as you were driving north — maybe safer.
So there you have it.
A whole-nuther way to deal with hurricanes.
And a whole-nuther way for condo owners to make money.
Work with me, I’m heading somewhere.
We all know that folks don’t buy condos to live in. They are investments. Owners hope that as their units appreciate in value, they can rent them to make the mortgage payment and still have a few weeks in the year to use ‘em themselves. But with so many condos going up, renting to cover costs gets harder and harder.
So they, the owners, are always receptive to new ideas for adding to the bottom line.
And to help them in this quest, let me propose what I like to call the "vertical evacuation agreement."
Tack it to every lease, a little clause that says that for a few extra bucks, when a storm strikes and evacuation is ordered, the renter gets exclusive right to the room of their choice in the unit plus first use of the bathroom and kitchen — as long as they remain operational.
Meanwhile, the condo owner can lease the other rooms to local folks who live low and would want to get high — a small fee to reserve a room, a bigger charge if they actually use it. Wouldn’t be surprised if some ahead-of-the-curve insurance company didn’t up and start offering "vertical evacuation coverage."
Sure it will be close quarters — all those folks in those rooms. But it’s better than being stuck on a road north of Foley with trees flying all around. Up high you can ride it out, even watch it, and have yourself a fine old time with your new friends.
Sounds like a plan to me.
And you heard it first here.
