Flood retrofit of coastal residential structures: Outer Banks, North Carolina

After Hurricane Emily struck the Outer Banks of North Carolina in August 19 93, approximately 50 homeowners in the towns of Avon, Burton, Frisco, and H atteras, N.C., elected to superelevate their houses to reduce the future ri sk of flooding. Insurance payments served as at least a partial source of f unds in most cases. A survey of 30 homeowners from this group was performed in 1995 to determine the motivations, methods, and benefits of the floodpr oofing retrofits. Half of the homeowners had been flooded at least twice pr ior to taking action. Homeowners typically made decisions based on memory o f prior flood events or advice from others, rather than predictions of floo d elevations. Retrofit costs were typically $10,000-$14,000 (in 1993 dollar s), representing roughly 15% of the mean assessed house value for the surve y. Results question the adequacy of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the a rea and reveal costs and motivations for flood retrofits of existing reside ntial structures in a coastal barrier island setting.