Flood-prone areas are losing residents as climate risks rise
More than 3.2 million Americans have already relocated due to flooding, with more expected to leave as climate change makes many areas increasingly uninhabitable.
Andrea Riquier reports for USA TODAY.
In short:
- Data from First Street shows that over 3.2 million Americans moved between 2000 and 2020 due to increased flooding, with many areas reaching a "tipping point" where local moves are no longer sufficient.
- Florida's real estate market is showing signs of population decline as hurricanes Helene and Milton worsen flooding, while other areas like Bexar County, Texas, are also seeing flood-driven outmigration.
- Future migration is expected to increase as homebuyers begin factoring climate risks into their decisions, similar to considerations like school quality.
Key quote:
“Say you’re stuck in your house, you know, twice a month every month out of the year. That slowly erodes the infrastructure in the area, and people start to avoid the area because it gets reputationally branded as an area that floods.”
— Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications research at First Street
Why this matters:
As flooding intensifies across the U.S., millions are forced to relocate, straining economies and infrastructure. Climate risks could reshape housing markets, leaving vulnerable areas abandoned.
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