In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy's devastating blow to New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (R) called for a special initiative to rebuild a stronger and more resilient city. That would be a smart investment, but the challenge, once again, will come in funding it.
Research has shown that flood- protection infrastructure consistently offers at least $4 of benefit for every dollar spent. The challenge is finding the funds to plan and build defenses rapidly at times when damaged communities have less to invest and the appetite for large public projects is low.