Americans share how they are retrofitting their homes to adapt to extreme weather

Facing increasingly severe weather, Americans are modifying their homes to cope with heat, wildfires and hurricanes, but many worry that personal efforts alone won’t solve the crisis.

Jem Bartholomew reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• Rose from Washington insulated her office to escape extreme heat after experiencing a deadly heatwave.
• Shannon Tucker in Denver now cleans her yard and gutter regularly to reduce wildfire risk and installed solar panels.
• Roxane Rolingson in Texas invested in hurricane screens to protect her home from worsening storms but acknowledges most people can't afford such upgrades.

Key quote:

“It’s frustrating because like, I can’t control what my neighbors do.”

— Shannon Tucker, homeowner in Denver

Why this matters:

Climate change is making extreme weather more common, forcing people to protect their homes. However, these measures are often expensive, leaving lower-income families more vulnerable to disasters.

Related: Schools redesign playgrounds to handle rising heat