Migration Patterns Post- Trina/Rita

[UTCdude23]

While the Southern USA, including the Gulf Coast region, has seen steady growth over the past couple of decades, it seems to me that areas prone to large hurricanes might have an exodus of residents. Do you think this is the case? Or will new residents come in to take the place of the ones who leave? While it is possible that there my be a large number of people leaving, it certainly wasn't the case for Hurricane Andrew back in '92, Florida continued to boom. Will this happen to the Houston Area of TX? Where would these residents go to, larger areas inland, like Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville or Charlotte? It'd be interesting to see, as I read in an article that we've entered a period of stronger and more frequent hurricanes that should last about another 10 years. This might have an impact on migration trends in the US. Any thoughts and opinons!

[peaceloveunderstanding]

Where would these residents go to, larger areas inland, like Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville or Charlotte?

Yes, I think these areas will see a little higher levels of growth but growth in Florida and the Gulf Coast will surely not shrivel up and die.

[Mith242]

Growth along the Gulf Coast might slow down for now. But I wouldn't be surprised the next quiet hurricane season there is that people start flocking back to the Gulf Coast.

[KendallKid]

Not a Chance. Miami is still growing along with Florida.

[Florida]

I don't really see any reason to run away from areas vulnerable to hurricanes, as soon as you leave them, you end up in Tornado or Earthquake country.

[UTCdude23]

But it seems to me that with a predicable hurricane season, people and businesses would be less likely to decide to move there, especially with the rise in damage costs over the previous 10 years. The Mid-Atlantic seems to be doing fine in terms of less severe natural disaster threats, in a messed up fantasy, I could see people return to the rust-belt, lol.

[Viper]

If more people knew that Jacksonville is as statistically likely to be struck by a hurricane as Boston, it may boom more than it already is......then again, maybe they do know.

[Spades]

Oh I don't think this will stop Houston nor Miami one bit.

[Aporkalypse]

I think it will only affect South Louisiana, especially NO. Houston, Baton Rouge, and DFW will get a population surge from Katrina at NO's expense. Nothing at all will change in Florida, the pace has remained steady despite 4 hurricanes last year.

[bobliocatt]

I don't see inland cities getting a boost from hurricanes. Most people who live on the coasts do so because they are attracted by coastal and waterfront living and all the amenities that come with it. They also know the potential risk of hurricanes. But like it was stated earlier, while moving inland limits or eliminates the risks of hurricanes, there's still the risk of some natural disaster still waiting in the wings.

[Southron]

I think in the long run these hurricanes won't affect population growth in the coastal South. People have been moving to the coast for decades - storms and floods have had little or no impact thus far. Earthquakes, mudslides and forest fires haven't stopped people from moving to California.

Hurricanes have had on affect on beachfront building construction, though. Several storms have wiped out older single family homes on the beach. These homes have been replaced with multistory condos and changed the character of these coastal communities. My guess is that this will happen along the Mississippi coast after Katrina.

[krazeeboi]

Even though coastal cities are prone to hurricanes, the fact that they are predictable makes a huge difference. There is little warning for tornadoes or earthquakes. In the end, I don't think this will affect migration patterns in any significant sense.