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Where Should I Live in the US with Climate Change?
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As wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters continue to take flight across the country – many Americans are beginning to wonder if their current homes are still suitable in the midst of climate change, as they start to ponder the question, “Where should I live in the U.S.?”
States such as California, Florida, and additional states in the southeast region of the United States have suffered from repeated natural disasters – and as insurance grows pickier in terms of coverage in the event of a catastrophe, many Americans are contemplating their future homes and living situations.
In this article, we’ll explain why Americans are concerned where they should live with climate change, what could be done to improve living in vulnerable states, and help to answer the question of, “where should I live in the U.S.”.
Why is climate change becoming a concern for several states?
Determining where to live due to climate change is becoming a deciding factor for those living in several states as the severity and frequency of natural disasters continue – such as with Hurricane Milton this past fall in the southeast region of the United States.
💡 Several American citizens report needing to move away from their native regions as a result of excess heat, droughts, flooding, and other extreme weather patterns that lead to continuous damage to their homes.
“ Think of when you get into a major car crash. Clearly, after the accident – you would be more fearful of driving. However, imagine you are getting into a major car crash year after year – the repercussion of driving would become too much to bear and you would consider eradicated the root of the problem altogether. This is how many people are starting to feel about the states most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. ”
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Here are just a few reasons why climate change is becoming a major concern for people who live in affected regions of the United States:
- Limited Climate Risk Coverage by Insurance – Several insurance companies such as State Farm have decided to limit their coverage for climate risks as the cost of repairing a business or home after a natural disaster has grown to be too expensive.
- Tax Delays & Business Difficulties – Many businesses in states where climate change is a major concern, especially small businesses, may struggle to file their taxes on time every year due to natural disasters physically damaging the business or making it difficult to attract customers.
- Disrupted Lifestyle & Inability to Plan – Natural disasters can happen from one moment to another, making it challenging to attend major events – such as concerts and sport events, or to plan outdoor gatherings with family and friends. Living in a state where a climate change driven disaster can occur at any minute can make it hard to enjoy life with safety in mind.
- Difficulty to Raise Children – The constant threat of potential accidents and even death have made it challenging for parents to provide their children with consistent routines and a sense of security.
- Decrease in Property Value – Coastal homes subject to rising sea levels are now exceptionally prone to coastal inundation and increased risk of flooding, which in turn – has made them property lose value and could elicit people to stop buying or investing in homes where the effects of climate change are most prominent.
👉 In addition to this, living in a state vulnerable to climate change could bring about various economic challenges, impact agriculture, and raise public health concerns due to rising levels of air pollution.
Which states are most affected by climate change?
States most affected by climate change include California, Florida, and the Carolinas – with states across the west coast and southeast region remaining the most vulnerable to natural disasters induced by climate change.
Here’s a breakdown of why these states are most affected by climate change:
- California – Home to over 38 million people, California is prone to extreme wildfire seasons due to warm and dry weather conditions. In addition to this, the state experiences profound droughts that strain water resources – especially in the Los Angeles area.
- Florida – As a result of low elevation and its extensive coastline, Florida is highly vulnerable to sea-level rise, hurricanes, and coastal erosion – especially in cities like Miami, which is set to be 60% underwater by 2060.
- Texas – Vulnerable to prone to dry heat, droughts, and even hurricanes – Texas is located alongside the Gulf Coast, which makes it subject to a wide variety of natural disasters.
- Louisiana – Known for powering through Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana suffers from sea-level rise, hurricanes, and excessive flooding – especially in New Orleans.
- Nevada – Famous for its casinos and scorching hot temperatures, cities like Las Vegas are known for enduring seemingly endless dry heat waves – making it a difficult city for those with respiratory issues to comfortably live in and also challenging to foster effective agricultural practices.
- Colorado – Having attract a new wave of tourism in recent years for its skiing attractions, Colorado is also experiencing wildfires – which is putting a dent in its recent success in tourism.
- Montana – Rising temperatures have elicited catastrophic wildfires across the state of Montana, making it more difficult to settle down in the state.
- North Carolina – Prone to frequent hurricanes, such as most recently with Hurricane Milton, North Carolina is home to heavy rain and flooding – especially in the Outer Banks.
- South Carolina – Close to North Carolina, this Mid-Atlantic state is also home to intense hurricanes, flooding, and sea level rise.
💡 Remember, even though certain states such as New York are relatively free of natural disasters – even their major cities are suffering from the effects of climate change, such as how New York City is sinking.
The table below shows which natural disasters take place in these more vulnerable states:
| State | Natural Disasters |
|---|---|
| California | Wildfires, earthquakes, droughts, floods |
| Florida | Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes |
| Montana | Wildfires, droughts, winter storms, floods |
| Texas | Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires |
| Louisiana | Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes |
| North Carolina | Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, winter storms |
| South Carolina | Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes |
| Nevada | Droughts, earthquakes, wildfires |
| Colorado | Wildfires, floods, winter storms, droughts |
👉 Ultimately, states on the west coast and southern region of the United States have shown to struggle the most in terms of climate change driven natural disasters.
Which states are least affected by climate change?
The states in the U.S. least affected by climate change include the New England and Midwest regions – with states such as Vermont and New Hampshire remaining exceptionally natural-disaster free.
Here are just a few of the states that remain next-to-natural disaster free:
- Vermont – Currently experiencing an unprecedented number of new residents, where ⅓ of people are moving to the state to be protected from climate change – Vermont is known to be a state free of wildfires, extreme heat, or hurricanes.
- New Hampshire – Neighboring Vermont, this New England state is also free of several natural disasters and rising sea levels.
- Delaware – This state on the East Coast is relatively free from hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes – making it a desirable state to live in for those who want to avoid natural disasters.
- Maine – Close to both Vermont and New Hampshire, Maine has a stable climate which makes it a safe place to live and operate a business. Although, Maine is subject to some coastal inundation – but not to the same extent as homes in Florida or other southeastern states.
- Minnesota – Although Minnesota’s winters are subsiding due to climate change, the state is generally free from other natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes.
- Michigan – Also located in the Midwest, Michigan is situated near the Great Lakes helps regulate the state’s temperature – helping it avoid the droughts and extreme dry heat experienced in states like Texas, California, and Nevada.
- Maryland – Situated on the Mid-Atlantic and nestled directly between the Northeast and the Southeast, Maryland is rarely a direct hit when it comes to major snow storms or hurricanes – and is often only subject to residual storms.
👉 Additional states that could be a safe haven from natural disasters include New York, Wisconsin, and Illinois – as all of these states experience little to no climate change induced weather events.
What is the issue with people relocating in the midst of climate change?
While moving to a state less affected by climate change can help to improve one’s quality of life and economic prosperity, it can put exceptional strain on states not ready to accommodate an increase of residents.
💡 For instance, Vermont saw an influx of people moving to the state as a climate safe haven – only for th state to experience extreme weather and floods in 2023.
“ Although there are states which are more protected from natural disasters than others, the reality is that climate change will continue to create sporadic weather patterns – making it difficult to predict if those states will remain free of dangerous climate-related weather events. ”
In addition to this, people moving to states such as Texas and Arizona require people competing for a living space – with 256,000 people moving to the state of Arizona alone in 2024. Not only will people moving to “climate resilient states” be fighting over houses and apartments, but states with a sudden population increase will have to figure out new ways to effectively ration depleting sparse resources such as water in these areas that already fight over the – such as freshwater from the Colorado River.
👉 Ultimately, we should remember that the root of the issue isn’t moving states to evade the issue of climate change – but working to fight against global warming itself.
Where should I live in the U.S. as climate change continues?
Although it’s important to remember that we must develop effective solutions via climate policy and our own personal habits to mitigate the consequences of climate change, there are regions of the United States that are currently safer from natural disasters than others – such as states in the Midwest and the Northeast.
“ States to avoid moving to in the midst of climate change include California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and the Carolinas. ”
💡 However, it is important to remember that some states, although more prone to natural disaster, have a stronger incentive to assist their residents in the event of a natural disaster – such as California, which has established itself as a leader in climate policy.
Therefore, it’s important to remember that moving to a state with a poor reputation climate-wise may not be the death-sentence you think it is – as some states have demonstrated a stronger motivation to fight against climate change than others.
Overall, where you live is a reflection of who you are – and shouldn’t be dictated by the climate entirely, but there are states which are currently safer from the negative impacts of climate change to choose from.
Remember, even if you decide “where I should live in the U.S.” based on climate change – it is important to encourage yourself and those around you to take effective action to fight global rising temperatures as a whole.
What About Greenly?
If reading this article on where should I live in the U.S. in the midst of climate change has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
Deciding where to live or relocate your business in the U.S. due to climate change can be challenging, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you find ways to improve energy efficiency and decrease the dependency on fossil fuels in your own company.
Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.
Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.
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