Journalist Mike Grunwald explains how Cape Coral's geography and canal network amplify hurricane risks for its population.
Opinion
Florida's coastal development model operates as an ecological Ponzi scheme
“And so that's what I mean by this ecological Ponzi scheme, where eventually, kind of, the bill comes due, and Hurricane Ian is one of those moments where suddenly we've put twenty million people in harm's way, And the harm arrived.”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Cape Coral was developed with literally zero urban planning
“It's like a peninsula jutting off the peninsula, and Cape Coral literally had, like, no planning.”
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Cape Coral will be rebuilt after Hurricane Ian without soul searching
“You know, I don't think there will be a lot of soul searching about, you know, do we belong here? Does a place like Cape Coral, you know, should it be rebuilt? It's going to be rebuilt.”
Assertion Supported
Governor Rick Scott abolished Florida's growth management agency
“Rick Scott, when he was governor, one of the first things he did was get rid of Florida's growth management agency, and since then, it's been all growth and no management.”
Prediction Held up
Florida will ask Washington to pay for disaster recovery, and likely succeed
“And now, of course, we see the consequences, and the consequences will be Florida's gonna put its hand out and ask Washington, D.C. To pay for all this, and probably they will.”
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Florida will not force mass climate retreat for South Florida residents
“We built here, you know, we're not gonna tell 200,000 people to leave Cape Coral. We're not gonna tell ten million people to leave South Florida.”