In Florida Keys, $5.5 billion hurricane protection plan would buy 300 homes, elevate thousands

Protecting the Florida Keys from the future’s stronger storms and rising seas involves retreating from the most dangerous spots. That process will be by choice, for now. Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a $5.5 billion plan to keep the island chain functioning after a devastating storm. It involves strengthening U.S. 1 in six places, elevating 7,300 houses, floodproofing 3,800 buildings and buying and demolishing about 300 homes. Buyouts aren’t new for the Keys, which has more willing sellers for a state-run buyout plan than anywhere else in Florida. But if the Army Corps is p...

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