Buyouts in the Carolinas: Pre & Post buyout perspectives of public officials and community leaders

Compound floods in rural, low-income communities are rising across the United States as storms intensify and weather patterns change. In communities experiencing repeated back-to-back flooding, the events impact residents who have lived in those areas for many generations. Voluntary buyouts of properties at risk of repeat flooding are increasingly being offered as a long-term mitigation solution. This study looks at the consequences of buyout programs in two low-income, underserved, and predominantly Black communities, Bennettsville, South Carolina and Tarboro, North Carolina, that have experienced compound floods (e.g. rain and riverine flooding). Results from in-depth interviews conducted with public officials and community leaders in Bennettsville and Tarboro reveal buyout governance characterized by state-led implementation. While buyout programs have historically been implemented by local governments, the intention to achieve greater implementation efficiency underlies recent state-led efforts. Nevertheless, state-led implementation in South and North Carolina has not resolved long-standing issues within the buyout program that center around program design and communications. Further, while the state-led implementation of buyouts is expected to ease financial pressures on local governments, it can also create unintended consequences for local communities including extended delays, lack of trust in the government, and more confusion over the buyout process. The study recommends the use of a more localized approach and providing program implementation assistance to local governments through established protocols, and creating communication and trust with buyout communities through direct accessible flow of information using multiple modes and a trusted local point of contact.