Some of America’s most vulnerable terrain consists of barrier islands, sand spits, and the marshes behind them. Every time a hurricane passes, seawater finds its way over them, storms toss them about, and waves strip them. However, for much of the 20th century, federal policies quietly reduced the cost of building there. The same stretches of shoreline were often repaired at public expense after each storm, and flood insurance, road funds, and disaster assistance reinforced the pattern.
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