America’s urban wildfire crisis: More than 1,100 communities at risk
More than 1,100 communities in 32 states face similar risks to Los Angeles and other places with recent urban wildfires, highlighting the urgent need for wildfire-resistant homes and neighborhoods.
Crossover landscaping can enhance wildfire resistance and save water
Crossover landscaping that does double-duty for drought and wildfire resistance is becoming more appealing for communities looking to reduce risk in residential areas.
Montana Community Foundation leverages data to reach more rural and Tribal communities
Using resources such as the Rural Capacity Index, the Montana Community Foundation was able to direct more grant dollars to rural, disadvantaged communities.
Cascading wildfire insurance issues impact local and state budgets
As home insurance in areas with high wildfire risk becomes more expensive and harder to obtain, significant pressure is put on state and local budgets.
Three trends showcase the strength of the outdoor recreation economy
Ten years of data show the outdoor recreation economy has grown in nearly all states and is helping drive economic diversification and workforce development.
Community Wildfire Defense Grants benefit rural and low-capacity communities
A Forest Service program is helping communities across the nation reduce wildfire risk—including those that don’t normally have the resources to successfully compete for federal grants.
Reinvesting in rural America
Reversing the legacy of rural disinvestment—and deliberately designing solutions for rural America—is a down payment on our shared future.
The cost of retrofitting a home for wildfire resistance
Retrofitting a home for wildfire resistance can cost as little as $2,000, making this approach an effective risk reduction strategy for communities.
The economic future of outdoor recreation in New Mexico’s Cibola and McKinley counties
New modeling of trail use in Cibola and McKinley counties, New Mexico has identified more than $1.7 million in visitor contributions to the local economy each year.
Future-proofing the outdoor recreation economy
Many outdoor recreation communities face outsized wildfire and flood risks. They must prioritize updating infrastructure, community planning, and emergency response.
Rising demand for FEMA’s BRIC program far exceeds available funding
An analysis of FEMA’s BRIC program for climate adaptation and disaster resilience funding shows rising demand, but unequal access.
Economic Impact of National Parks
Millions of national park visitors generate economic opportunities for gateway communities, spending money that creates jobs and income. See the trends for every national park service unit.
Updates to Wildfire Risk to Communities reveal 115 million people living with high wildfire risk
New climate data and methodology enhances Wildfire Risk to Communities, a free online tool for understanding wildfire risks across the United States.
Public land ownership in the United States
Public lands influence the economy, demographics, and fiscal policies of communities. Explore maps and county-level data for the 828 million acres of federal, state, and municipal land in the U.S.
Assisting communities
Headwaters Economics works directly with communities to help them become more resilient to the threats of floods and wildfire, and to economic transition.
Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) works with communities to reduce wildfire risk through improved land use planning.
FloodWise Community Assistance provides free technical assistance to decrease flood risk and strengthen communities.
Headwaters Economics’ outdoor recreation program helps communities leverage their natural amenities to diversify their economies.
Wildfires destroy thousands of structures each year
Explore the number of structures destroyed in each state by wildfire. Structures lost—rather than acres burned—provides a more complete measure of the broad impacts of wildfire.
Redefining the urban wildfire problem in the West
Leading wildfire experts make the case that creating wildfire-resistant communities must become a much higher priority.
Prioritizing people in mobile home park buyouts
Many mobile home parks face higher flood risk and relocation may be the best option. A review of 12 mobile home park buyout projects illustrates how policy innovation and resident engagement can increase success.
The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State
The outdoor recreation economy is large, growing faster than the overall economy, and consists of jobs in many industries. Explore data by state.
The Amenity Trap: How high-amenity communities can avoid being loved to death
Amenity communities face unique challenges from waves of tourists and new residents. Proactive planning can help avoid being loved to death.
A rural capacity map
A new map helps identify communities where investments in staffing and expertise are needed to support infrastructure and climate resilience projects.
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The unequal impacts of flooding
Headwaters Economics has conducted an analysis of flood and socioeconomic data to illustrate where flood risks disproportionality affect vulnerable populations.
Match requirements prevent rural and low-capacity communities from accessing climate resilience funding
Many federal grant programs require communities to provide a local match, creating barriers for rural and underserved places.
Latinos face higher flood risks than other groups
Headwaters Economics and the Hispanic Access Foundation have released a report that shows that 44% of Latinos live in counties with high flood risk, as opposed to 35% of non-Latinos.
Decreasing flood risk in the Midwest with regional collaborations
A regional approach to flood risk can help communities pool resources and implement effective solutions. Five case studies offer lessons.
Austin, Texas: Built for Wildfire
See how leaders in Austin, TX came to realize the magnitude of the wildfire threat, and how they brought together diverse interests to protect their community.
The unequal impacts of wildfire
See where wildfire risk intersects social and economic factors that can make it difficult for people to prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire.
Missing the mark
A new analysis shows that managing the built environment is the most effective strategy at reducing wildfire risk to communities, yet it receives the least funding and policy support.
A new approach for wildfire policy
A new report from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission recommends transformative approaches needed to overcome the wildfire crisis.
About Headwaters Economics
Headwaters Economics is an independent, nonprofit research group that works to improve community development and land management decisions.
Our Data Tools
Explore our free data tools
Headwaters Economics maintains free, easy-to-use tools to help you better understand socioeconomic data and trends. Find data from dozens of sources for thousands of places in the United States.
Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire
Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) works with communities to reduce wildfire risk through improved land use planning. The program is a program of Headwaters Economics, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service.