Why Buy-In to buyouts?

By 2045, more than 280,000 residents of the United States will be forced to adapt or relocate due to chronic, disruptive flooding, threatening $135 billion in property. Extreme weather is increasing, as are flood insurance rates. Residents in your community may be experiencing negative impacts and demanding action. Finding solutions to address these risks is a daunting task. 

Voluntary property acquisitions (also called buyouts) are the only permanent solution to eliminating flood risk, over other options such as elevation and flood-proofing. To date, buyouts have not been implemented at scale due to concerns about political backlash, loss of tax revenue, procedural requirements, and operations and maintenance costs. However, strategic relocation of homes and other community assets away from high-risk areas is increasingly recognized as a necessary or even inevitable solution. Studies show that savings from pre-disaster programs like buyouts can save as much as $7 for every $1 spent.

With limited budgets, capacity, and expertise to navigate slow, opaque, and complicated federal programs, funding and implementing a successful flood mitigation project may feel overwhelming.  Buy-In has learned from the best to make buyout programs more efficient, equitable, and cost-effective. We can help you design a buyout program for your community that fits your unique context and needs.