Question

Use the table to answer the question.

A town is considering adopting a flood mitigation strategy. The results of its study are shown in the table below.

Comparison of Flood Mitigation Strategies
Criteria Building Flood Diversion Channels Elevating Buildings in the Flood Plain
Time required 3 years 5 years
Initial cost $20 million $55 million
Annual maintenance costs $10,000 $1,000
Number of residents displaced 250 40
Which of the following statements provides the best analysis of the data?

(1 point)

The town should build the diversion channels because this option will displace fewer people.

The town should elevate buildings in the flood plain because the work will be completed sooner.

The town should build the diversion channels because this option is more cost efficient.

The town should elevate buildings in the flood plain because the maintenance costs are lower.

Answer 1

The town should build the diversion channels because this option is more cost efficient.

Reason: the diversion channels have a much lower initial cost ($20M vs $55M) and take less time (3 vs 5 years); the higher annual maintenance ($10,000 vs $1,000) is small compared with the $35M initial cost difference.