After the storm: When recovery creates a community crisis
The storm ends, the fire goes out, floodwaters recede.
After a natural disaster, the immediate focus often shifts to rebuilding homes and infrastructure. However, a new Georgia Tech-led study reveals that the economic fallout from these events can still drive people out of their communities long after the storm has passed. Researchers found that rents were 6.5% to 12.5% higher than expected four years after a disaster in California and Florida.
This rent increase was not uniform across all communities; those receiving federal support through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds experienced smaller increases compared to similar communities that did not receive such aid. Brian An, an associate professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, and his team analyzed two decades of rental housing data and federal disaster records.
They noted that housing becomes particularly vulnerable during and after disasters, with damaged buildings reducing supply and displaced residents entering the rental market. These factors, combined with higher costs for repairs, construction, and insurance, lead to more significant rent pressures. The study emphasizes that while rebuilding homes is crucial, keeping communities intact requires addressing the broader economic impacts of disasters.
Policymakers are urged to consider investing in resilient housing, expanding affordable rental options, and strengthening renter protections to mitigate the long-term effects of disasters on communities.
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