Reducing coastal risk on the East and Gulf Coasts

This report calls for the development of a national vision for managing coastal risk that includes a long-term view, regional solutions, and recognition of the full array of economic, social, environmental, and life-safety benefits that come from risk reduction efforts in the United States. To support this vision, a national coastal risk assessment is needed to identify high-risk areas and prioritise them for risk reduction efforts. Benefit-cost analysis, constrained by other important environmental, social, and life-safety factors, provides a reasonable framework for evaluating national investments in coastal risk reduction. 

The report presents the following recommendations for reducing coastal risks:

• A national vision for coastal risk management is needed in order to achieve comprehensive coastal risk reduction. 
• The federal government, working closely with states, should establish national objectives and metrics of coastal risk reduction.
• The federal government should work with states to develop a national coastal risk assessment.
• Stronger incentives are needed to improve pre-disaster risk management planning and mitigation efforts at the local level.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) should seize opportunities within its existing authorities to strengthen coastal risk reduction.