People are moving to risky areas despite climate dangers

Despite growing climate threats, over 300,000 Americans relocated to flood or fire-prone areas last year, driven by affordability and housing availability in states like Florida and Texas.

Sarah Kaplan reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

A Redfin report shows that U.S. counties most vulnerable to floods and fires saw a population increase from July 2022 to July 2023, though some fire-prone areas in California saw a net outflow.
Rising insurance costs due to increased climate-related disasters are making some areas unaffordable, prompting moves away from places like California's Ventura County.
Despite risks, affordability and low taxes in Texas and Florida continue to attract residents to these vulnerable areas.

Key quote:

"In this new world, this new regime that we live in, maybe people are changing their behavior a bit."

— Elijah de la Campa, Redfin senior economist

Why this matters:

As climate change exacerbates extreme weather, more Americans face increased risks and financial burdens by moving to vulnerable areas. Understanding these migration patterns helps address the need for improved infrastructure and resilience planning in at-risk communities.

www.washingtonpost.com

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