Investigating Public Perception of Flooding and Erosion Risk

While sea level rise, hurricanes, and winter storms are increasing in coastal communities, Massachusetts flood insurance enrollments are not. In fact, participation in flood insurance policies declined in recent years, particularly on Cape Cod. More frequent and intense weather events leave homeowners vulnerable to property damage caused by flooding and erosion.

Economists Di Jin and Michael Weir with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Marine Policy Center designed a survey to investigate coastal property owners’ perceptions of the risks associated with flooding and erosion. They also queried how property owners decide between purchasing flood insurance, investing in physical protections like sea walls, or choosing not to protect their properties at all. This research sought to address important policy questions: why coastal homeowners are not insuring, and how to encourage them to consider flood insurance as an effective option to managing their financial risk exposure.

The research team surveyed coastal homeowners in flood-prone areas in all fifteen Cape Cod towns. They plan to share their research results with local homeowners, as well as state and federal floodplain managers.