The Coastal Property Insurance Crisis
More severe storms and rising sea levels pose a threat to U.S. coastal communities, including millions of homes and businesses. Insured damages to coastal property are steadily increasing, insurance premiums are increasing, and private insurance companies have stopped serving some coastal states. Taken together, the consequences of declining availability and increasing costs constitute a coastal property insurance crisis. On March 13, 2024, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts to discuss the crisis and consider what programs and policies insurance providers and governments could adopt to best guide the coastal property insurance market toward desired national goals. This Dialogue presents a transcript of that discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.