Home insurance premiums surge as climate disasters intensify

Americans living in high-risk areas are facing soaring home insurance costs due to increasing floods, storms and wildfires driven by the climate crisis.

Oliver Milman reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• Insurance premiums in counties most vulnerable to climate disasters rose 22% from 2020 to 2023, compared to a 13% overall average increase.
• Florida faces some of the steepest hikes, with average annual home insurance costs surpassing $11,000 due to repeated storms and insurer exits.
• Many homeowners lack flood insurance, leaving them exposed to massive financial losses after disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Key quote:

“This has been the canary in the climate coalmine, and it’s now hitting households’ pocketbooks.”

— Ben Keys, economist at the Wharton School and co-author of the research

Why this matters:

Climate-driven disasters are straining the insurance market, making coverage unaffordable or unavailable for many. Rising premiums threaten homeownership, especially in vulnerable regions like Florida, where insurers are abandoning the market, exposing more people to financial peril.

Related: Rising insurance costs leave more homeowners uninsured