Migration to Disaster-Prone Areas Persists

Americans are moving to regions at high risk of climate-related disasters, putting more people in the path of dangerous hurricanes, wildfires, and other climate crises, reports Aimee Picchi for CBS News. 

This is despite spiking insurance costs — and the refusal of some insurers to cover homeowners in certain states, such as Florida and California, altogether. A 2023 report found that over 3 million Americans have moved to new areas due to growing flood risks and prohibitively high insurance rates. “The average annual premium for a Florida homeowner is $5,500 — about 140% higher than the typical U.S. homeowner's cost of $2,285, according to Bankrate.”

However, “The populations of high-risk counties have grown at a rate that's 3 percentage points faster than low-risk counties over the last three decades, according to research from economists Agustin Indaco, Francesc Ortega and Xinle Pang.” In the West, where wildfires are growing larger and more destructive, is also seeing outsized population growth as people newly untethered from office jobs seek more affordable housing options.

According to a recent study, the bulk of migration, as well as development in flood-prone areas, is mainly concentrated in Florida and Louisiana, as well as other parts of the Gulf Coast.