The unfortunate truth is that disasters happen. Even those who prepare for natural disasters, such as hurricanes or wildfires, may still suffer catastrophic losses. When these types of emergencies devastate homes and towns, individuals and families find themselves required to make several big decisions in a short amount of time, including whether they’ll stay or leave. Once a hurricane, wildfire, tornado, flood, or earthquake has passed, there’s one main decision many people have to make: After losing everything in a disaster, do you rebuild in the same area or pack up and head somewhere safer? Here are some major factors to consider when trying to answer such a question. Can you rebuild to a higher construction standard that would make your new home sturdier and more disaster-resistant than the old one? Will you be able to get (or afford) insurance on a rebuilt structure in a disaster zone? Are neighbors, local businesses and public services likely to return and rebuild? Given that you’ll need to make this difficult decision sooner than later after a disaster, we’ve put together a resource guide to help you prepare. With some forethought and precaution, you’ll be able to make the most responsible decision for your family. Types of Natural Disasters Affecting Buyers and Homeowners When you’re shopping for a home, it’s important to know the risks. Different terrain and geographical features expose homeowners to different dangers, and you need to know what you’re signing up for, in terms of weather and environmental risks. Hurricanes. If you purchase a home in a coastal area that’s exposed regularly to tropical weather, you should research the hurricane risk for the area. There are even online records indicating where every hurricane has hit the U.S. since 1985. Wildfires. Many areas are at risk for wildfires, including those with hot, dry weather, and woodlands with fallen timber. Online maps can illustrate areas of high wildfire risk. Earthquakes. You should also research your home’s earthquake hazard risk. FEMA Earthquake Hazard Maps are helpful for showing which areas are most vulnerable. Flooding. Similarly, if you purchase a home in a flood zone (you can check the FEMA Flood Map Service), you’ll need to prepare for the possibility of flooding. Tornadoes. If you buy a home in a tornado zone, particularly in Tornado Alley, you should know your risks and take precautions. Typically, in communities where the risk is greater, homebuyers should look for homes that are built to withstand the areas’ typical natural disasters as best they can. Disasters Damage Homes — and Lives Natural disasters can cause significant damage to a home, but the amount and type of damage vary greatly. For example, hurricanes can cause damage due to strong winds, but an accompanying storm surge also can cause significant flood damage. Hurricanes also can spawn tornadoes. This combination can equate to significant and even complete loss of properties. And we’ve all seen the damage done to homes after a fire, flood, or earthquake. These events are called “disasters” for a reason. The structural integrity of a home can be severely damaged by any of these, leaving it uninhabitable. In addition to disasters that cause roof and structural damage, a home suffering even a few inches of water damage can necessitate significant repairs as well as mold remediation. Likewise, after a wildfire, fire and smoke damage leaves lingering issues beyond what is visible — such as odors and drifting ash. However, it’s not only homes that suffer when a natural disaster occurs; the lives of the people in those homes can be upended completely. According to the children’s charity site Their World, “Natural disasters, such as floods and typhoons, forced 4.5 million people around the world to leave their homes in the first half of 2017. They included hundreds of thousands of children whose education has been stopped or disrupted due to schools being severely damaged or destroyed by extreme weather conditions.” Schools, businesses, and municipal service organizations are also affected by natural disasters, leaving whole communities to decide whether they should rebuild or leave. Massive damage to schools means that children in the community will either be out of school for months or dispersed to different schools nearby. Public services such as police, firefighters, emergency services, and hospitals may find their facilities or workforce compromised, causing a disruption in services. Natural disasters wreak havoc on entire towns, contributing additional deciding factors for homeowners when choosing whether to stay or leave. Stay or Go? The Public Debate When it comes to deciding whether to stay and rebuild or leave and move on after a natural disaster, keep in mind that you’re not the first ones facing this difficult choice. In fact, since natural disasters impact large communities, wide-ranging public debates have arisen regarding whether or not entire communities should take on the exorbitant costs of rebuilding. For instance, an ongoing public conversation debates the wisdom of spending federal funds to rebuild coastal towns where the possibility of another hurricane is very real. The New York Times reports, “Across the nation, tens of billions of tax dollars have been spent on subsidizing coastal reconstruction in the aftermath of storms, usually with little consideration of whether it actually makes sense to keep rebuilding in disaster-prone areas.” Many scientists argue that rebuilding in these areas is a waste of money and puts people’s lives at risk. However, nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population lives near a shoreline. The logistics of a mass exodus would be staggering. And leaving homes and communities they’ve known and loved for generations is not an easy choice for anyone. News and opinion site The Tylt reports, “Nearly 63 percent of the country supported tax dollars going to New York and New Jersey after [Hurricane] Sandy hit, and most Americans feel that neighborhoods are close-knit and worth keeping together. Abandoning the coastlines would mean disrupting entire communities and ripping families apart.” As you read on, you’ll see that this choice may not be one you can make completely on your own; the choices of entities surrounding your home will also come into play. After all, if your community chooses not to rebuild, what will be left for you? Annual Costs to Homeowners Natural disasters are costly in numerous and different ways, not the least of them monetary. According to the report Natural Disasters’ Economic Impact, “2018 was the fourth-costliest year for natural disasters in history […] They cost $160 billion, of which only half was insured […] 2017 cost the U.S. economy a record $307 billion. There were 16 events that cost more than $1 billion each.” As Forbes explains, “fires cost homeowners the most, with $6.3 billion in damages between 2015 and 2017 alone. Flooding cost homeowners about $5.1 billion in that time, while hurricanes and tornadoes racked up $4.5 billion in damages.” When roads and major infrastructure are damaged, the costs to communities are exorbitant. Plus, those without insurance often end up going bankrupt, and their damaged homes remain unrepaired. Even with federal aid or a declared state of emergency, some individuals cannot afford to stay. For a better idea of the annual costs for homeowners, check out MSN MoneyTalksNews’ report surveying How Much Natural Disasters Cost in Every State. Insurance Considerations Homeowners should purchase the right type of insurance to protect their homes and property in the event of a disaster. However, home insurance gets tricky, and not all disasters are covered. As the finance blog MarketWatch explains, “For homeowners, what precisely caused the damage to their home will prove important for insurance purposes, because coverage will depend on how the damage was caused. During a hurricane, if high winds cause roof damage that leads to significant water accumulation within the house, insurance will likely cover it. But if a nearby river crests because of heavy rainfall and then causes flooding, the damage to homes will only be covered if the owners have flood insurance.” Therefore, it’s critical to have the right types of insurance — especially if you purchase a home in an area where natural disasters are more likely to occur. As Forbes explains, “homeowners should be aware of the potential catastrophes that could occur in their area, so they can properly insure themselves against damages.” Understanding and Mitigating Risks It can be easy in the immediate moments following a natural disaster to think the worst. However, before you make any permanent decision about whether you’ll stay or leave, you should mitigate the risks. For example, the Rice University Business School explains, “Although we can’t predict when another catastrophe will happen, it’s important not to assume that because we flooded recently, flooding will happen again soon. Research shows that when people are planning for the future, they give too much weight to recent events.” However, it’s wise to consider the risks and make an informed decision. For instance, if you live in a hurricane-prone area, you need to consider whether you can survive another hurricane or if it would be better for you to relocate. Likewise, if you lived through a flood and continue to live in a flood zone, it’s wise to invest in flood insurance. Also, review U.S.maps indicating natural disaster risks like earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes to help you gain better insight into risk factors for your area.