Since building in flood prone areas is heavily subsidized by the federal government by providing subidized flood insurance where no sane entity would provide it

Since building in flood prone areas is heavily subsidized by the federal government by providing subidized flood insurance where no sane entity would provide it, of course they're going to continue to build there. It doesn't really matter if they build with concrete or wood. After Katrina, a cat 5 storm, I saw modern concrete and steel structures completely wiped away except for some twisted steel girders sticking up from concrete pads - a mile from the gulf. Building within 10 miles of any hurricane prone body of water should be strictly at the personal risk of the owner. If some insurance company is foolhardy enough to insure there, they should not get any government help.