Millions of Homes in US Are at Risk of Natural Disasters Due to Climate Crisis

Already worn down by this summer's record-breaking heat, flash floods, and wildfires, Americans will be subjected to much more extreme weather in the following decades as the planet accelerates toward irreversible climate change.

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a study this week that predicts a cascade of disasters as the world's incapacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions approaches a critical point.

More flooding, fires, and severe weather swings are on the way, posing a threat to houses across the United States.

Unaware Americans

Since the National Flood Insurance Program's establishment 50 years ago, FEMA has struggled to keep reliable flood maps.

Its maps indicate whether a property is located within or outside of a flood risk zone. If they have a federally backed mortgage, that inside must obtain flood insurance. Coverage is optional for people who are outside.

However, the maps can be obsolete, overlook lower-priority locations, and be vulnerable to political interference throughout the revision process, according to Eric Tate, a professor at the University of Iowa. He created flood modeling tools as a FEMA contractor early in his career.

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