Hurricane threats are causing insurers to retreat from coastal areas in Massachusetts and around New England, leaving many looking for alternative protection.
"Many insurers have either pulled out or sharply restricted their underwriting in coastal areas, forcing more than 40,000 homeowners to scramble for coverage."
"But some insurers are now retrenching along the entire Massachusetts coast, even in areas that are not considered likely targets for a hurricane's full brunt."
"Conventional wisdom holds that a major hurricane approaching New England would come from the south and slam into the coasts of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts. The Cape and Islands would be particularly vulnerable."
"A hurricane could steamroll across the Cape toward Boston and the North Shore or head inland, but industry officials say in that case the storm would likely lose much of its power and probably cause less damage."
"Because of the Cape's perceived vulnerability, many insurers have retreated there, and homeowners have been left with no other choice for coverage than the Massachusetts Fair Plan, the state's insurer of last resort. The Fair Plan, which is operated as an independent insurance company but regulated by the state, now insures more than 40 percent of the homes on the Cape."
FULL STORY: More insurers backing away from coasts

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie