The main reason for greater risk is that the population in areas prone to rough weather—including the east, west and Gulf coasts—is rising more rapidly than in many other parts of the country, according to Benjamin L. Preston, a senior research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Greater wealth per person—more valuable homes and possessions in harm’s way—is the second leading factor.
Population from 1960 to 2009 went up fast in areas along the oceans, notably Florida and California (see map). The increase is a combination of general population growth and people moving to those regions from elsewhere in the country.
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Population Growth (ratio of population in 2009 versus 1960)
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