Home | Support RFF | Join E-mail List | Contact
 
RFF Logo Skip navigation links
FOCUS AREAS
RESEARCH TOPICS
PUBLICATIONS
NEWS
EVENTS
RESEARCHERS
ABOUT RFF

 

Join E-mail List
Please provide your e-mail address to receive periodic newsletters and invitations to public events
Improving Flood Insurance and Flood Risk Management: Insights from St. Louis, Missouri
Carolyn Kousky, Howard Kunreuther
RFF Discussion Paper 09-07 | March 2009
RESEARCH TOPICS:
Abstract
This paper examines the history of St. Louis, Missouri in coping with flood risk over the past 15 years, with a focus on flood insurance. Six challenges to the continued management of riverine flood risk are identified and discussed. They are (1) many property owners don’t buy flood insurance, (2) people underestimate flood risk, (3) we need better flood maps, (4) we have a “love affair” with levees, (5) flood risk is increasing over time, and (6) we take deep pride in rebuilding after a disaster. Recommendations for how to improve flood risk management in light of these challenges are offered. Focused attention is given to the possibility of long-term flood insurance contracts tied to long-term loans for risk-mitigating activities in overcoming the six challenges.
 
RFF Home | Weathervane | Extending the Cure | RFF Press Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice
1616 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 · (202) 328-5000 Site Map | Feedback | Contact Us