For two generations we put our own cities at risk to protect Berlin, Paris and Rome.

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The Homeland Security Department allocates funds based on what it determines are the cities at greatest risk, with New York topping a list of 10 cities that vie for the largest portion of the money.

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Congress's goal was to focus money on the 31 cities at the highest risk.

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But smaller cities may be at risk.

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In most cities, rich or poor, it is the less well off who are most at risk from floods and natural disasters.

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