Braving the Storm: Hurricanes and Human Migration

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of hurricanes on human migration within the United States, leveraging year-to-year IRS data to address changes and FEMA disaster declarations. The research aims to determine whether natural disaster risks and personal experiences with such events influence migration decisions. Using a regression model similar to Mullins and Bharadwa (2021), the study measures the average impact of hurricanes on origin counties. Key variables include FEMA assistance data, county adjacency to affected areas, and various socio-economic and natural amenity factors. The findings reveal complex migration patterns, with notable influences from natural amenities, urbanization, and previous hurricane impacts. Contrary to expectations, hurricanes appear to decrease outmigration, suggesting nuanced responses to disaster risk. This work contributes to understanding how climate-related risks shape population dynamics and can inform policy on housing, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness.