More Than 80% of New California Properties Are in High Fire-Risk Areas
4 months ago
- #housing
- #climate-change
- #wildfires
- Los Angeles wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and killed dozens, raising concerns about future building choices.
- 31% of new US homes in 2020 were built in high fire-risk areas, up from 13% in 1990.
- Covid-19 pandemic led to migration from cities to rural areas, increasing wildfire exposure.
- California's housing policies and NIMBYism push development into high fire-risk zones.
- Over 80% of California properties built between 2020-2022 are in high fire-risk areas.
- Insurance companies like AllState and State Farm stopped accepting new applications in California due to wildfire risks.
- Wildfires are harder to model than other disasters due to human influence and climate factors.
- Nine of the 10 most expensive US wildfires occurred since 2017, driven by climate change.
- Experts recommend stricter building codes, better land use planning, and community education to mitigate risks.