Most of the houses in this (small) town were being raised about 6 feet onto brick/masonry foundations. The region had suffered the attentions of, I think, 4 tropical storms in 3 years and FEMA was tired of buying new carpets for everyone. Axson Smith Jr. of River Forest Manor told us the story, but it played out like a Dutch auction . . FEMA told each property owner something like "You pay 80% and we'll chip in the rest." In the end, FEMA paid a whole lot more.
Somehow, I don't see that happening with every flood-prone community in New Jersey or New York . . . not unless some future President sees the need for a major stimulus injection into the construction industry. I the happens I will complain loudly, since I was smart enough to buy a house on the watershed (or maybe it was too poor to buy one on the waterfront).