One-Third of Americans Are Moving for This Shocking Reason

Uprooting your life and starting over isn't an easy thing to do -- I've been there. But what if the reason you needed to move wasn't due to an exciting job or educational opportunity, but because your home and perhaps even life were in danger?

Almost a third (30%) of respondents to a survey by Forbes Home said that climate change was a reason to move last year, and based on the frequency and severity of natural disasters over the last few years, we can only expect the numbers to increase.

Climate migrants

There's a term for people who are moving due to climate change: climate migrants. It is clear we can no longer pretend that climate change isn't happening and that the U.S. isn't being impacted. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) tracks weather and climate disasters, and data shows they're on the rise in both number and severity. As of June 8, 2023, there were already nine confirmed events that exceeded $1 billion in damage each, including flooding, severe storms, and a winter storm event.

Weather events contributing to climate migration aren't limited to just one part of the country, either. Areas already prone to wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, tornadic storms, and winter storms are all particularly impacted by the continuing effects of climate change -- meaning those living in the West, South, and in coastal areas are all more likely to be relocating.

Where are they moving to?

While there is nowhere in the U.S. that is completely immune to the effects of climate change, some regions are under less immediate threat. Planning Magazine (a publication of the American Planning Association) noted in 2021 that cities in the Midwest and Northeast are likely to receive many climate migrants, and people may move to the interior West (New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho) as well.

However, income disparities have an impact on whether and where people relocate. Planning Magazine notes that just a year after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, only half of the residents who left returned to New Orleans. But two-thirds of those who did leave didn't get very far -- they lived in other parts of Louisiana and Texas. Those without the financial resources to leave a region altogether and get a mortgage loan elsewhere may find themselves sticking around, and could end up in harm's way again.

How can homeowners cope with climate change?

If you own a home in an area already experiencing climate-change-heightened natural disasters, it's likely you're coping with problems like higher homeowners insurance rates. It's worth taking the time to review your existing coverage and seeing if you need to increase it based on any extreme weather events your area is prone to experiencing.

You can also take specific steps to cope with different types of natural disasters. One of my colleagues recently wrote about ways to protect a home from wildfires -- these include keeping your roof and gutters clean and maintaining 30 feet of defensible space around your home. Another offered tips for those who live in hurricane-prone areas, such as keeping trees trimmed and installing storm shutters and doors.

It's also worth padding your emergency fund to give yourself some extra funds in case you need to evacuate or cover a homeowners insurance deductible in the event of damage to your home. Consider purchasing a home safe to keep important paperwork and a supply of cash at the ready.

I wish I could say that making these moves will be enough to protect you and your home from climate change and the increasingly severe natural disasters and weather events it will bring. But you may end up needing to relocate in the future. In the meantime, increase your homeowners insurance coverage as needed, put extra money aside, and know that you're not alone -- we're all in this together.