Local government perspectives on housing buyouts in New York after Hurricane Sandy

ABSTRACT

Understanding government experience with hazard buyouts can enhance future efforts. We conducted a study of state and local government perspectives about buyouts after Hurricane Sandy in the New York area, including three jurisdictions that participated in buyouts and two that did not. Respondents differentiated outcomes for buyout participants, which they saw as financially beneficial, and outcomes for residents remaining, including limited open space and risk reduction benefits. The perceived benefits and drawbacks of buyouts were dependent on site and local government characteristics. Buyouts were seen as most appropriate as a last resort, in response to financial losses for homeowners. Increasing partnerships and opportunities for cross-jurisdictional learning, expanding time frames for buyout participation, and revisiting buyout costs and benefits over time could enhance buyout programmes.

Highlights

• Disposition, restoration, and recreation use of buyout sites was challenging.

• Limited economic and hazard reduction outcomes resulted for communities.

• Local government staff saw buyouts as an economic recovery option for homeowners.

• Long-term planning is critical for buyout benefits for remaining communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Managed retreat
• flooding
• resilience
• green space
• hazard

Acknowledgements

The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Our study occurred before Hurricane Ida, which has led to renewed discussion around buyouts in New York City (Maldanado, 2021).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.