In the past five months alone, extreme weather has caused billions of dollars in damage to property.
The total cost of January’s wildfires in Los Angeles could exceed $30 billion, while damage from Hurricane Milton is expected to cost $175 billion. Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene inflicted $48 billion in property damage.
Homeowners “need to understand that these extreme weather events are no longer once-in-a-lifetime occurrences,” says Aidan Charron, associate director of Global Earth Day.
More than 21,000 counties in the U.S. are experiencing population decline due to climate risks, according to the latest Properties in Peril report from First Street.
These counties have been dubbed “climate abandonment” areas by First Street, which projects that they could potentially see sustained population decline due to risk of disaster and home insurance premium spikes.
Property values in these areas are expected to decline 6.2% through 2055, according to the report. California’s Fresno County is expected to take the biggest hit, with projected home value losses of up to 10.4% over 30 years. The report also projects that the county’s population will decline 46% over that period, while insurance premiums rise 56%.
Other top climate abandonment areas by projected population loss include Ocean County, NJ (-33%); Monmouth County, NJ (-32%); Sacramento County, CA (-28%); and Jefferson County, AL (-26%).
If you live in an area at risk of extreme weather, there are ways to mitigate damage.
How to protect your home if you live in a fire zone
“We need to accept that we can’t prevent wildfires, so we need to build and maintain our homes to resist ignition when fires do happen,” says Elizabeth La Jeunesse, vice president of building products research at John Burns Research and Consulting.
A home’s roof is one of its most vulnerable points in a fire. Wind-driven embers from distant wildfires can travel up to 5 miles, land in an eave, and ignite. Choosing a Class A roof provides the highest level of protection, as these roofs are tested to withstand temperatures of 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit and winds up to 12 mph.
Likewise, use fire-resistant materials for exteriors to create a defensible space around your property. Aim to have an area of 30 feet completely free of dead plants and tree branches, and reduce any fuel within 100 feet of your home.
This is particularly important for households living within wildland-urban interfaces, says La Jeunesse. “It could make the critical difference between your home surviving the next fire event.”
How to protect your home if you live in a flood zone
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster, according to FEMA. Just 1 inch of floodwater can cause $25,000 in damage to a home.
To defend your home from floodwaters, first understand your base flood elevation. This is the estimated high watermark for floodwaters in your area.
Elevate utilities and pipes at least 12 inches above this threshold to prevent the most costly damage. Direct water away with landscaping that slopes away from your house. Keep drains clear and free of debris.
Consider adding floodproof exterior walls to help fend off shallow flooding, and install sump pumps with backup batteries to quickly drain the most at-risk areas of your home.
How to protect your home if you live in a tornado zone
Roof failure is a common and costly consequence of tornadoes. A metal roof offers the highest level of protection against high winds, hail, and other debris.
Reinforce other breach points like windows, doors, and garages with wind-rated replacements and bracing. If you’re retrofitting your home, storm shutters can be installed over existing features for a more cost-effective fix.
Yard maintenance is another important part of protecting your home from tornadoes. Broken tree limbs can break through windows or even walls, causing damage to your home and making it more susceptible to high winds.
Opt for mulch instead of rocks or gravel, and secure outside structures like sheds and even patio furniture with tornado anchors.
How to protect your home if you live in a hurricane zone
Hurricanes combine many of the risks associated with tornado, flood, and fire zones. What hurricanes add to the mix is duration. For a home to be hurricane-safe, it must be able to withstand high winds, flooding, debris, and even fire (caused by downed power lines or broken gas lines) for an extended period.
In addition to the recommendations above, upgrade your windows to hurricane glass. This laminated material is designed to withstand both strong winds and debris by adding a strong polymer layer between layers of glass.
Hurricane-proof exterior doors by adding at least three hinges and a deadbolt at least 1 inch long, and get a wind-rated and impact-resistant garage door. Not only is the garage a vulnerable breach point, but it can also serve as protection for your vehicle. Cars can be swept away by just 12 inches of water.
Act now
The cost of making climate-resilient upgrades can lead homeowners to put off these home improvement projects. A fire- and wind-resistant metal roof, for example, can cost $8,000 to install, compared with asphalt shingles, which cost about half that.
But there’s a cost to not making these changes: Climate change could erase $1.47 trillion in property values by 2055. Hardening your home now is the best way to mitigate damage.
