Seabrook floodgate (the Times-Picayune)

Anamaria Bukvic, PhDUrban Affairs and PlanningSchool of Public and International Affairs

New York City (nca2014)

• Overconfidence in technology and engineering solutions • Unsustainable coastal land use patterns• Choosing only feel-good short-term solutions• Avoiding wicked problems until they escalate• Lack of accountability and inertia

Avoiding mistakes from the past

1. Levees and seawalls2. Natural protective barriers like wetlands, sand dunes, vegetation3. Housing elevation and flood proofing4. Relocation5. Nothing

Which of these options would be the best to prevent future impacts from storm surges and sea level-rise?

How to proceed?

• Holistic approach (inputs, outputs, interactions)• Custom-made solutions• Multiple approaches (mix and match)• Innovation and creativity to integrate