Johan Wevers wrote:

However, I do wonder why the Americans build so many houses of wood in
those areas. Not that building decent stone houses would help against
flooding, but it would against hurricanes.

Hello Johan,

Louisiana is notoriously slim on actual building stone, especially
the southern part of the state. The original French/Spanish settlers did
a lot of building with brick, reserving their stone for churches. In
reality, the French Quarter is supposed to have survived fairly well,
considering, largely because it is on higher ground, and the building
done in the 1700s, and 1800s and preserved there is structurally more
sound than modern construction.

Because Americans move so much during their lifetime, and do not
have the same sort of place-roots as Europeans do, they see no point in
erecting buildings that will endure for a hundred, 500 or 1000 years.
Many of the so-called 'wood' structures are actually wood-frame only,
with the walls made of gypsum-cardboard, and in some cases part plastic.

Many (not all) Americans value new and cheap over old and durable.
So, they tear down instead of repair, and build new with cheap. Other
than that, I cannot explain it, as I live in 'secondhand' house myself,
and have no desire for bright shiny and resource-wasteful housing.

best wishes,
Jo Schaper (forebears from near Meppen, Germany)