Transcript:
As the climate warms, many New Jersey homeowners face a growing risk of flooding from violent storm surge along the coast or heavy rain that overwhelms inland streams.
Angarone: “We frequently see people … get to the point where they just can’t handle this anymore. They don’t want to deal with the fear and the stress of every time it rains.”
Nick Angarone is with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which runs the Blue Acres program – the longest-running state-run home buyout program in the U.S.
It allows eligible homeowners in flood-prone areas to sell their properties to the state and move to higher, drier ground.
The homes are demolished and the land is converted to green space like meadows or wetlands, which can absorb water and reduce the risk of nearby flooding.
Since the mid-90s, more than 1,200 homeowners have participated in the program, which is voluntary. And hundreds more have applications on file.
Deciding to pursue a buyout can be a hard choice.
Angarone: “It is a very, very personal and difficult decision for families.”
But Angarone says it’s the only way to guarantee that people who live in some of the most flood-prone areas will be protected in the future.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
