Climate Risk

An article in the Washington Post last week outlined a detailed analysis of risks associated with the places we chose to live.  And consequently the implications associated with this choice.  There are implications related to risks.  The article may be pay walled, nevertheless this is the link if you want to take a look and avail yourself of the interactive risk calculator. 

I also want you to know that 10,000 years ago - where I live on the Door Peninsula - was covered by an ice sheet a mile thick!  Yup, that is a pile of glaciation.  So much so that the earth's crust continues to rebound from the weight of all of that ice.  The truth of the matter is that things have gotten warmer ever since.  

The climate has changed.  

And yes - beginning with the industrial revolution - I'm sure the hand of man has contributed to this change.  But I digress.

In this column the issue of climate risks assesses both the opportunities and threats that this poses for homeowners.  As a recovering financial guy I can appreciate the careful study of risks as they relate to the financial implications. 

Some families live in locations with too little water while others live with flood risk.  Some households chose to live within a spectacular view of the water; consequently there is the risk of sea level rise and dangerous storm surge.  If you've ever visited Asheville, NC you'd likely think:  This would be a terrific place to live.  Asheville, NC is no more because of a never-before flood event.  And while mountain views are also spectacular a wildfire can reduce your home to a smoking pile of ash.  More than once.

Many of these events come as a result of many years of climate change.  And they come with ramifications for the choice we make as to where to live, market impacts on the prices of our dwellings and the costs associated with insuring against losses.  All of which cumulatively impact communities on a larger scale.

The interactive calculator in the article offers AI-powered geospatial predictive analysis from AlphaGeo.   This utilizes granular analytics covering all climate risk hazards including heat stress, drought, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires for a volatile world including risk and resilience data to guide future-proofing your homestead.

As it turns out Door County, WI has very low climate risk.  Here's a breakdown of the individual risks:

Coastal Flooding and Hurricane - Very Low

Heat and Wildfire - Very Low

Inland flooding and Drought  - Low

It's rather safe to live here.  The risk of sea level rise is a non-issue although fluctuating lake levels periodically bedevil businesses and homeowners situated on the coastline.

And for the record - over the last number of decades we've been hanging around here I've taken notice of two anecdotal changes:

No snow for the November gun deer opener in about eighteen years.  The November gun season has become milder.  

You can use the link in the first paragraph to assess these same risks for any county in the United States.