Disasters and Politics

I've listened to multiple accounts of how Hurricane Harvey is going to change the political dynamics in Washington, D.C. It is likely the "first priority has changed from passing a budget and extending the debt ceiling before the end of September, to authorizing billions of dollars in aid to the state of Texas. Note, they are not going to do a "big number" authorization, but a series of smaller amounts over time. Likely something in the region of $10B-20B.

I am certain that the debate on disaster aid will become a much bigger topic in the halls of Congress as we continue to have multiple billion-dollar disasters each year. Harvey will make the total 10 for just 2017 alone. It will be interesting to watch what congressmen and congresswomen will do with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which must be extended by legislative action by the end of September. Clearly they will take action to do that, but might they ... do more? With huge numbers of houses damaged by flood waters that did not have NFIP coverage — might they take action to expand the program — post facto to Harvey? 

A one-two punch with Hurricane Irma making landfall on the East Coast might be enough for legislators everywhere to think again about developing property along the ocean. The problem is that everyone seems to have short memories and the natural urge is to "rebuild — stronger and better" than before seems to be a message of strength, when actually it is not courage, but weakness on the part of people everywhere failing to stand up to reality.