美国国家公共电台 NPR--What the devastation from Hurricane Ian tell us about Florida's building codes

What the devastation¹ from Hurricane Ian tell us about Florida's building codes

Transcript²

NPR's A Martínez talks to Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of the Arsht-Rockefeller Resilience Center, on whether Florida's building codes can stand up to increasingly severe hurricanes.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

Hurricane Ian was the latest reminder³ for the need to adapt our infrastructure⁴ to deal with the rapidly changing climate. Florida had been preparing for such storms since Hurricane Andrew struck in the early 1990s. The state updated its building codes to make sure new buildings could survive high-wind speeds. But the widespread damage seen during Ian has some asking if the current code is strong enough or if building codes are even the answer to increasingly powerful storms.

Joining us now is Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center and a former Florida energy and climate commissioner⁵. Kathy, Florida already has some pretty tough building codes when it comes to hurricane. What more possibly can be done, especially after what we've seen with Hurricane Ian?

KATHY BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: We need to make the building codes that are strong even stronger. You know, the storms we're seeing are hotter and wetter and slower and bigger. And so we're not ready, even with the codes that we have.

MART?NEZ: Wouldn't that make building a lot more expensive, I mean, to the point where maybe people just can't afford to build these homes or even live there?

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: Well, that might be a good thing. We want to direct people in places that are safe and get people away from dangerous places. And so building codes are a part of that. But they're not the entire picture. We've got to have a mix of plans, including retreat.

MART?NEZ: So when you say building codes aren't part of the full picture and you say retreat, retreat as in don't live in certain areas, particularly ones that are high-risk areas?

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: Yes. And we don't - the cost of living in those places is not truly reflected because insurance rates and mortgages and all those things don't reflect that. And so the codes are a part and can be a strong part, but the size of what's coming from increased climate impacts is too big for us to code ourselves out of.

MART?NEZ: Do you think, though, Kathy, there is political will to tell people where they can't live? I mean, I'm in California, and wildfires have caused billions of dollars of damage and lots of loss of life in the last few years. And Governor Gavin Newsom has said he will never block homebuilding, even in high-risk fire areas. But should we start telling people where they can't live for their own safety?

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: I think it's time to reconsider what we're doing, given the size of what we're facing, so, yes. And when some people live in one place, it puts the lives of other people at risk, including our public safety folks. And so it's time for a new plan.

MART?NEZ: What about insurance because it's tough to get earthquake insurance in California, as it is to get certain types of insurance in Florida? Could that be maybe a way around having all of these places in dangerous spots?

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: Yes. And you'll find in some of the states with the big risks that the states have their own insurance companies. So those companies are providing insurance in places that are - as the insurer of last resort, meaning they're insuring places that are really dangerous. And so one of the ways we can do that is to say we can't insure you here. We can't give you a mortgage here, and we won't zone for development here. Those are all really strong ways in terms of policy to keep people protected and to protect the economy.

MART?NEZ: I know nationwide, FEMA says that nearly two-thirds of communities have not adopted the latest building codes. What more can be done to encourage a lot of these places to just become more resilient and really adopt these building codes?

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: Well, when you go to rebuild, we need to think about, should we rebuild in this place? We need to stop developing in high-risk areas. We need to map and prioritize the most vulnerable people and neighborhoods from all of the heat and fire and storm that we're facing.

MART?NEZ: Map and prioritize vulnerable people - what does that mean?

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: It means you can assess the vulnerability of your community and say this neighborhood is vulnerable. You can be vulnerable because you live in a place that's prone⁶ to flooding or to storm surge. And you can also be vulnerable because you're socioeconomically vulnerable. I mean, the people being pulled out of the rubble⁷ in Fort Myers Beach are not rich people. Those were people very low on the economic ladder.

MART?NEZ: But here's the thing, and I've seen it in California - people rebuild almost right away in a place that was absolutely wrecked⁸ and devastated⁹. I'm sure in Florida that probably will be the case as well. So at this point, what are - what is the one option that might work?

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: The one option is for public policy to prevent folks from moving back into places that are so dangerous. It's very sensitive. It's very tough. But again, it's time for a new plan. And we've got to protect the most vulnerable and protect our economy. And the way to do that is to not build in these dangerous places.

MART?NEZ: Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, thank you very much, Kathy.

BAUGHMAN MCLEOD: Thank you.

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1 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

6 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

7 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

8 wrecked   

adj.失事的，遇难的

参考例句：

• the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸
• the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞

9 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。