Fire, floods, coastal storms, drought—the list of natural
disasters that invoke billions in damage to communities and
their economies is long and persistent. The tally of costs from
Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast continues to mount, mirroring
the multi-billion dollar price tags for other hurricane
disasters. Yet, year after year, the US Army Corps of Engineers
spends millions of dollars to replenish beaches, supporting the
continued presence and expansion of coastal communities. And
federal agencies spend between $1 billion and $2 billion
annually on fire suppression and efforts to remove dangerous
underbrush and trees from overly dense forests. Billions more
are spent on flood protection. Should federal taxpayers continue
to foot the bill for measures to protect communities in areas at
high risks from natural disasters? A recent National Public
Radio story resurrects this long-standing debate, focusing on
federal taxpayer costs to replenish beaches—year after year—as
bulwarks against storm damage. Proponen