[JoeGar]

The problem is the explosion in gigantic, palatial permanent homes that get rebuilt by heavily-subsidized government insurance.

True. One solution is to do away with taxpayer-subsidized, relatively cheap National Flood Insurance. If a homeowner had to pay the cost of "real" insurance, most could not afford it and most would not build an uninsured home at a place where it is likely to be destroyed.

[Redbob]

"One solution is to do away with taxpayer-subsidized, relatively cheap National Flood Insurance."

I'm with you on that.
There was little construction of any sort on South Padre Island here in Texas, no hotels, no "permanent" dwellings until the early '80's (I think it was) when they extended federal insurance to that barrier island.

Now it looks like Panama City, and all Americans will foot the bill when the next hurricane comes through there.