No Safe Ground Brant Explains Cost of Poverty in Appalachia’s Flood Zones
In her latest piece for The Conversation, RSS Member Kristina Brant sheds light on the harsh realities faced by flood-affected communities in Appalachia. With limited financial resources and few relocation options, many residents are left with no alternative but to rebuild in the same vulnerable locations.
“It has always been costly and time-intensive to develop land in Appalachia. Available higher ground tends to be located on former strip mines, and these reclaimed lands require careful geotechnical surveying and sometimes structural reinforcements.
If these areas are remote, the costs of running electric, water and other infrastructure services can also be prohibitive. —Kristina Brant, Penn State University
Brant’s research highlights the intersection of environmental vulnerability and rural poverty, emphasizing the urgent need for policy solutions that address both.