Climate Change Is Upending The Home Insurance Market

This article is part of The State of Science, a series featuring science stories from public radio stations across the United States. Reporters Jessica Meszaros of WUSF and Rachel Cohen of KUNC have been covering this issue in different regions.

You can’t get a mortgage without home insurance. But in some parts of the country, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a plan, as insurance companies drop homeowners  and pull out of entire states, as flooding, wildfires, and storms become more frequent and intense. Host Flora Lichtman talks to reporters Jessica Meszaros and Rachel Cohen, who have been covering this issue in Florida and Colorado. Flora then speaks with Benjamin Keys, who studies the impact of climate change on the real estate market, about the future of home ownership in a world increasingly unsettled by climate change.

Further Reading

• Jessica Meszaros’ story on how climate change is contributing to the home insurance crisis in Florida and beyond for WUSF.
• Rachel Cohen and Murphy Woodhouse’s story the home insurance crisis brewing in the Mountain West for Boise State Public Radio.

Real Estate Hunting For The Climate Apocalypse Use climate forecasts to find the best place to survive climate change in this high school Earth science lesson. How Often Do 100-Year Floods Actually Occur? Flooding poses a serious risk to communities across the country as the climate changes. Let probability help you estimate your flood risk.