[00:04.81]Many Americans desire to live in homes near coastal areas.
[00:10.95]More than 3,000 people move to coastal areas every day.
[00:16.74]But experts say one-fourth of the buildings along America's coastal areas may be damaged or destroyed by erosion within sixty years.
[00:30.22]That is about 86,000 homes and other buildings.
[00:36.34]Coastal erosion is a loss of land that is made worse by powerful ocean storms.
[00:44.33]Officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the findings in a report to Congress.
[00:53.63]The report was done by the H. John Heinz Center for Science,Economics and Environment.
[01:02.64]Experts studied the erosion threat to structures within 150 meters of the nation's coastal areas.
[01:12.12]The report estimated that almost 350,000 structures are within 150 meters of the nation's coasts.
[01:23.96]The report studied all the ocean coastlines and those along America's five Great Lakes.
[01:33.02]However, it said the erosion problem was especially severe on the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
[01:43.89]Weather experts say that the nation appears to be entering a period of increased ocean storm activity.
[01:54.26]They say more storms would increase the threat of coastal erosion.
[02:00.11]However, stronger buildings and homes built on tall posts have improved the ability to survive Storms and reduce erosion.
[02:13.04]The cost of erosion damage to property owners is expected to average about 500,000,000 dollars a year.
[02:23.12]And many structures are not covered under the federal flood protection program.
[02:29.97]The program provides coverage to homeowners in coastal areas who might not have been able to get private insurance.
[02:40.05]The report calls for a major new effort to map coastal erosion,improve building rules and identify high-risk areas.
[02:52.43]It also suggests that federal officials consider approving requirements to limit building in coastal areas.
[03:01.21]However, a group that represents coastal communities criticized the government report.
[03:08.94]The American Coastal Coalition says the report is a government effort |