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Isn't it possible to make the building codes such that houses must like the google image search for "flood proof houses" - little boxes that stand on legs? Far better than telling someone their land is worthless.

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I remember hearing stories of homes in Houston that had been elevated after previous floods to make them flood proof. They were elevated high enough to survive the highest flood on record. But this one was higher..

I've always wondered what the marginal cost is for raising a home (e.g. +0.5 meter). I imagine there's some cost, and at some point you run into zoning laws. But if it's your primary residence and is in a flood prone area, why not just put it ~3 meters up and be safe like they do in coastal Florida?

Roughly $75-$80 a square foot without any complications. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/H...

Cool find! The $75-$80 is the cost per square ft of house though. I'm curious about the cost of additional elevation. I.e. to parent comment's point about "elevated" houses still being flooded because they weren't elevated enough.

I'd assume that once it's jacked, adding or subtracting vertical height is basically free.

Adding height makes it less stable in high winds.

Flooding was well over 10 feet in some areas.

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