New Census Report Captures the Housing Effects of Disasters

A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau offers a new approach to understanding the impact of disasters on local housing markets.

1 minute read

May 28, 2020, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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A project built by the Base Camp Village nonprofit in Butte County, California. / via Shelterforce

"For the first time this decade, U.S. Census Bureau housing unit estimates released today show the impact of natural disasters in towns and cities across the country," report Lauren Medina and David Armstrong in an article for the Census Bureau. 

"For this latest series of estimates, the Population Estimates Program expanded the use of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) data to add precision to the housing and population estimates for all states within the United States that experienced some type of natural disaster," according to the article. 

The FEMA data is the key, according to the article, to the improved timeliness and quality of the program. For examples of the new estimates in action, the article digs into examples from region's impacted by fires in California, Hurricane. Michael in Florida, and flooding in Iowa.


Thursday, May 21, 2020 in U.S. Census Bureau

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