--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I asked the mayor if flood insurance…" description: "\"“When I asked the mayor if flood insurance rates had gone up after Sandy, he said, “Not really.” This is how disaster relief works in America. There ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/jeff-goodell-8272_disaster-relief_when-i-asked-the-mayor-if-flood-insuranc_414916.png" --- # When I asked the mayor if flood insurance rates had gone… ![“When I asked the mayor if flood insurance rates had gone up after Sandy, he said, “Not really.” This is how disaster relief works in America. There are lots of incentives to rebuild but few incentives to rebuild differently, much less to rethink the long-term future of cities and towns along the…” quote by Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/jeff-goodell-8272_disaster-relief_when-i-asked-the-mayor-if-flood-insuranc_414916.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/jeff-goodell-8272_disaster-relief_when-i-asked-the-mayor-if-flood-insuranc_414916.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/jeff-goodell-8272_disaster-relief_when-i-asked-the-mayor-if-flood-insuranc_414916.png) > ““When I asked the mayor if flood insurance rates had gone up after Sandy, he said, “Not really.” This is how disaster relief works in America. There are lots of incentives to rebuild but few incentives to rebuild differently, much less to rethink the long-term future of cities and towns along the coast.”” [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Disaster relief focuses on rebuilding the same, not on changing vulnerable infrastructure, leaving coastal communities at risk. **In simple terms:** Relief rebuilds the same, not differently. Key Takeaway Push for resilient rebuilding. Themes environment policy urban planning climate change Mood concerned critical Type analytical policy‑oriented When to use this quote - city zoning - insurance reforms - community advocacy - government budgeting Key Concepts risk management incentive structures long‑term planning Questions to Reflect On - How can incentives be aligned for resilient design? - What role should citizens play in demanding change? A Different Perspective Political and often resist costly changes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disaster relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster-relief/) ## Related quotes > [“Armageddon,' Sandy said. 'The final battle. The ultimate confrontation between good and evil. That's what armageddon is supposed to be. Right?' Hobbins lifted a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/armageddon-sandy-said-the-final-battle-the-ultimate-confrontation/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“You all have stories, Sandy said. And we have secrets”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-d-ambrosio/you-all-have-stories-sandy-said-and-we-have-secrets/) [Charles D'Ambrosio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-d-ambrosio/) > [“On armageddon day,' Sandy said, 'both armies will think they fight for good. And both of them will be wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/on-armageddon-day-sandy-said-both-armies-will-think-they-fight-for/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [The National Flood Insurance Program is a valuable tool in addressing the losses incurred throughout this country due to floods. It assures that businesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-miller/the-national-flood-insurance-program-is-a-valuable-tool-in-addressing/) [Gary Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-miller/) > [In more than 500 instances, from the Gulf of Alaska to Bar Harbor, Maine, FEMA has remapped waterfront properties from the highest-risk flood zone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/in-more-than-500-instances-from-the-gulf-of-alaska-to-bar-harbor/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Today more than 20,000 communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. More than 90 insurance companies sell and service flood service insurance. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-miller/today-more-than-20-000-communities-participate-in-the-national-flood/) [Gary Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-miller/) > [The National Flood Insurance Program is a voluntary program. If a community really feels that the building insurance requirements are too burdensome, they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-blumenauer/the-national-flood-insurance-program-is-a-voluntary-program-if-a/) [Earl Blumenauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-blumenauer/) > [We cannot watch another family lose everything - risking their lives and the lives of the first responders sent to rescue them - because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/we-cannot-watch-another-family-lose-everything-risking-their-lives/) [Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/) > [Flooding is the costliest and most common cause of property damage, which is why federal flood insurance should be affordable and accessible to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/flooding-is-the-costliest-and-most-common-cause-of-property-damage/) [Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/) > [From disaster relief to representation in Congress, the census plays an important role in protecting Iowa's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/from-disaster-relief-to-representation-in-congress-the-census-plays/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [“As we gain an understanding of what's going on internally, we need to apply that same kind of awareness and understanding to others and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/as-we-gain-an-understanding-of-what-s-going-on-internally-we-need-to/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [Cynically but accurately put, Americans oppose public intervention or regulation if it helps others, but favor it if it helps them - take social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/cynically-but-accurately-put-americans-oppose-public-intervention-or/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Who knew, in 2000, that compassionate conservatism meant bigger government, unrestricted government spending, government intrusion in personal matters, government ineptitude, and cronyism in disaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-buckley/who-knew-in-2000-that-compassionate-conservatism-meant-bigger/) [Christopher Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-buckley/) > [Disaster mitigation... increases the self reliance of people who are at risk - in other words, it is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-davis/disaster-mitigation-increases-the-self-reliance-of-people-who-are-at/) Ian Davis > [Whether it is a call to action for blood drives, disaster relief, or just community outreach, the American Red Cross does an extraordinary job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/whether-it-is-a-call-to-action-for-blood-drives-disaster-relief-or/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) ## More by Jeff Goodell > [One thing you can say about nuclear power: the people who believe it is the silver bullet for America's energy problems never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/one-thing-you-can-say-about-nuclear-power-the-people-who-believe-it/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [The biggest tab the public picks up for fossil fuels has to do with what economists call 'external costs,' like the health effects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/the-biggest-tab-the-public-picks-up-for-fossil-fuels-has-to-do-with/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [To understand how quickly we're cooking the planet, we need good data. To have good data, we need good satellites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/to-understand-how-quickly-we-re-cooking-the-planet-we-need-good-data/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [Australia is the only island continent on the planet, which means that changes caused by planet-warming pollution - warmer seas, which can drive stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/australia-is-the-only-island-continent-on-the-planet-which-means-that/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [In the world of energy politics, the sudden vanishing of the word 'coal' is a remarkable and unprecedented event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/in-the-world-of-energy-politics-the-sudden-vanishing-of-the-word-coal/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [The end of coal in Appalachia doesn't mean that America is running out of coal (there's plenty left in Wyoming). But it should end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/the-end-of-coal-in-appalachia-doesn-t-mean-that-america-is-running/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [You think the weather is weird now? Just wait. A new MIT study, just published in a peer-reviewed journal, projects that the Earth could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/you-think-the-weather-is-weird-now-just-wait-a-new-mit-study-just/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [Nowhere has the political power of coal been more obvious than in presidential campaigns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/nowhere-has-the-political-power-of-coal-been-more-obvious-than-in/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [Subsidies are hugely important; they represent America's de facto energy policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/subsidies-are-hugely-important-they-represent-america-s-de-facto/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who also happens to be the 10th richest person in America, with a personal fortune of some $18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/new-york-city-mayor-michael-bloomberg-who-also-happens-to-be-the-10th/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [In the United States, we do a pretty good job of protecting iconic landscapes and postcard views, but the ocean gets no respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/in-the-united-states-we-do-a-pretty-good-job-of-protecting-iconic/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [In the U.S. alone, weather disasters caused $50 billion in economic damages in 2010.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/in-the-u-s-alone-weather-disasters-caused-50-billion-in-economic/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [Among all the tests President Obama faced in his first term, his biggest failure was climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/among-all-the-tests-president-obama-faced-in-his-first-term-his/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [President Obama is in no danger of being judged by history as an eco-radical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/president-obama-is-in-no-danger-of-being-judged-by-history-as-an-eco/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [This Dewdrop World is a beautiful, courageous, intimate film about love and loss. It may also be the deepest meditation on climate change that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/this-dewdrop-world-is-a-beautiful-courageous-intimate-film-about-love/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) [Explore all 82 Jeff Goodell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) ## More Disaster relief quotes > [Whether it is a call to action for blood drives, disaster relief, or just community outreach, the American Red Cross does an extraordinary job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/whether-it-is-a-call-to-action-for-blood-drives-disaster-relief-or/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [Disaster mitigation... increases the self reliance of people who are at risk - in other words, it is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-davis/disaster-mitigation-increases-the-self-reliance-of-people-who-are-at/) Ian Davis > [Who knew, in 2000, that compassionate conservatism meant bigger government, unrestricted government spending, government intrusion in personal matters, government ineptitude, and cronyism in disaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-buckley/who-knew-in-2000-that-compassionate-conservatism-meant-bigger/) [Christopher Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-buckley/) > [“As we gain an understanding of what's going on internally, we need to apply that same kind of awareness and understanding to others and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/as-we-gain-an-understanding-of-what-s-going-on-internally-we-need-to/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [From disaster relief to representation in Congress, the census plays an important role in protecting Iowa's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/from-disaster-relief-to-representation-in-congress-the-census-plays/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [Cynically but accurately put, Americans oppose public intervention or regulation if it helps others, but favor it if it helps them - take social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/cynically-but-accurately-put-americans-oppose-public-intervention-or/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Rising sea levels, severe draughts, the melting of the polar caps, the more frequent and devastating natural disasters all raise demand for humanitarian assistance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/rising-sea-levels-severe-draughts-the-melting-of-the-polar-caps-the/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [What we ought not do is play politics with those who've been afflicted by disasters. This should not be controversial. Stop playing politics, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-plouffe/what-we-ought-not-do-is-play-politics-with-those-who-ve-been/) [David Plouffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-plouffe/) > [Like everyone else in the world, I've been devastated by the loss and suffering of so many in South Asia…As a mother, I cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/like-everyone-else-in-the-world-i-ve-been-devastated-by-the-loss-and/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [Providing clean, efficient solar/electric generators to industries such as oil companies, spanning from film and event production, construction, disaster relief, agriculture, forestry, and nonprofit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/providing-clean-efficient-solar-electric-generators-to-industries/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [It is inappropriate to portray the central contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund as help for COVID-19 prevention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinarayi-vijayan/it-is-inappropriate-to-portray-the-central-contribution-to-the/) [Pinarayi Vijayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinarayi-vijayan/) > [Governments of rich countries spend some $6bn of tax money a year on disaster relief and development aid overseas, while each new earthquake, famine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchan/governments-of-rich-countries-spend-some-6bn-of-tax-money-a-year-on/) [James Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchan/) > [I'm hoping that maybe I can be part of a disaster relief effort, something that's real life. That's kind of what I do anytime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-peregrym/i-m-hoping-that-maybe-i-can-be-part-of-a-disaster-relief-effort/) [Missy Peregrym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-peregrym/) > [“Everywhere we turn we are told we are wrong, that we must act the "right" way, that our own dreams and desires are either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-bones/everywhere-we-turn-we-are-told-we-are-wrong-that-we-must-act-the/) Dr. Bones > [My father did a lot of disaster relief work, and he was always in places where there was a lot of pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/my-father-did-a-lot-of-disaster-relief-work-and-he-was-always-in/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) [Browse all 22 Disaster relief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster-relief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I asked the mayor if flood insurance rates had gone up after Sandy, he said, “Not really.” This is how disaster relief works in America. 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