The lure of coastal life

Coastal development has its risks

In 1960, there were 180 people per square mile in the coastal United States; by 1994, there were 275 per square mile. A USA Today study in 2000 found 1,000 year-round settlers arriving in coastal counties each day.

In Florida, more than 13 million people live in coastal counties, up from 200,000 a century ago. As a result, all four of last year's Florida hurricanes made the list of America's 10 most damaging storms ever.

While there are still a few lingering reminders that Hurricane Charlie plowed into Punta Gorda last year, much of the area shows no sign of damage and significant new development is underway the area. It certainly appears that we have short memories when it comes to balancing the risks of living near the coast vs. living in the path of future storms.

The Lure of Coastal Life Outweighs The Risks [Washington Post] registration required