As the effects of climate change continue to intensify, many Americans are now making decisions about where to live based on the risk of climate-related disasters. The states of Maryland and Wisconsin have emerged as safe havens, due to their perceived lower risks when compared to other parts of the country.
According to Policygenius, an insurance comparison site, there are 10 US cities that carry the lowest climate-change risks. To arrive at this list, the site evaluated the climate risks of the country’s 50 most populous cities. Over the last two decades, there has been a noticeable shift in migration patterns, with approximately 3.2 million people moving out of high-flood-risk areas, according to a report by First Street, a prominent climate-research organization.
This phenomenon of relocating due to climate risks has been termed “climate migration“. It encompasses scenarios where people move as a result of fear of future climate risks or are compelled to move because of financial or other compelling circumstances. There have been several documented cases of individuals, such as retiree Marcia Flanagan and architect Jason Beury, who have relocated due to fears of extreme weather conditions, including droughts, heat, and flooding.
To compile their rankings, Policygenius relied on data from FEMA, the EPA, as well as other studies. They assessed not just the risk of disasters, but also the social vulnerability and community resilience of cities to changing climate conditions. However, it is important to note that even cities with lower risks are still susceptible to climate-related disasters. Furthermore, the study did not include smaller cities, which means there could be lesser-known safe havens out there.
According to the study, the cities with the least risk of climate-related disasters span various geographical regions, with cities ranging from Pittsburgh in the East to Minneapolis in the Midwest. As the realities of climate change continue to unfold, it is clear that climate migration will continue to influence where people choose to call home.
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