Headwaters Economics
  • Research
    • Economic Development
    • Equity
    • Natural Hazards
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Public Lands
    • Tax Policy
  • Community Assistance
  • Tools
  • About
    • Our ImpactPage about Headwaters Economics’ impact, projects, and services
    • Our Team
  • Contact
Search

Natural Hazards

  • Extreme heat is not just an urban threat: The risk to rural communities

    Extreme heat is not just an urban threat: The risk to rural communities

    Kelly Pohl

    Extreme heat poses health risks to millions of rural Americans. Solutions need to be tailored to meet the unique characteristics of rural places. Read more

  • Crossover landscaping can enhance wildfire resistance and save water

    Crossover landscaping can enhance wildfire resistance and save water

    Doug Green

    Crossover landscaping that does double-duty for drought and wildfire resistance is becoming more appealing for communities looking to reduce risk in residential areas. Read more

  • Community Wildfire Defense Grants benefit rural and low-capacity communities

    Community Wildfire Defense Grants benefit rural and low-capacity communities

    Kelly Pohl

    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. Read more

  • Cascading wildfire insurance issues impact local and state budgets

    Cascading wildfire insurance issues impact local and state budgets

    Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

    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. Read more

  • Rising demand for FEMA’s BRIC program far exceeds available funding

    Rising demand for FEMA’s BRIC program far exceeds available funding

    Kris Smith, Ph.D.

    An analysis of FEMA’s BRIC program for climate adaptation and disaster resilience funding shows rising demand, but unequal access. Read more

  • The cost of retrofitting a home for wildfire resistance

    The cost of retrofitting a home for wildfire resistance

    Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

    Retrofitting a home for wildfire resistance can cost as little as $2,000, making this approach an effective risk reduction strategy for communities. Read more

  • Updates to Wildfire Risk to Communities reveal 115 million people living with high wildfire risk

    Updates to Wildfire Risk to Communities reveal 115 million people living with high wildfire risk

    Kelly Pohl

    New climate data and methodology enhances Wildfire Risk to Communities, a free online tool for understanding wildfire risks across the United States. Read more

  • Redefining the urban wildfire problem in the West

    Redefining the urban wildfire problem in the West

    Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

    Leading wildfire experts make the case that creating wildfire-resistant communities must become a much higher priority. Read more

  • Austin, Texas: Built for Wildfire

    Austin, Texas: Built for Wildfire

    Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

    In this ten-minute video produced by Headwaters Economics, learn 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. Read more

  • Prioritizing people in mobile home park buyouts

    Prioritizing people in mobile home park buyouts

    Kris Smith, Ph.D.

    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. Read more

  • Latinos face higher flood risks than other groups

    Latinos face higher flood risks than other groups

    Patricia Hernandez

    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. Read more

  • Los latinos enfrentan mayores riesgos de inundaciones que otros grupos

    Los latinos enfrentan mayores riesgos de inundaciones que otros grupos

    Patricia Hernandez

    Headwaters Economics y Hispanic Access Foundation han publicado un reporte que muestra que el 44% de los latinos viven en condados con un alto riesgo de inundaciones, en contraste con el 35% de los no latinos. Read more

  • The unequal impacts of flooding

    The unequal impacts of flooding

    Kris Smith, Ph.D.

    Headwaters Economics has conducted an analysis of flood and socioeconomic data to illustrate where flood risks disproportionality affect vulnerable populations. Read more

  • Congressional wildfire commission lays out a new approach for wildfire policy

    Congressional wildfire commission lays out a new approach for wildfire policy

    Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

    A new report from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission recommends transformative approaches needed to overcome the wildfire crisis. Read more

  • Missing the mark: Effectiveness and funding in community wildfire risk reduction

    Missing the mark: Effectiveness and funding in community wildfire risk reduction

    Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

    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. Read more

  • Analysis of the first round of Community Wildfire Defense Grants

    Analysis of the first round of Community Wildfire Defense Grants

    Kelly Pohl

    An independent analysis by Headwaters Economics shows that the first round of funding from the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program prioritized high-risk, low-income communities. Read more

  • Decreasing flood risk in the Midwest with regional collaborations

    Decreasing flood risk in the Midwest with regional collaborations

    Kris Smith, Ph.D.

    A regional approach to flood risk can help communities pool resources and implement effective solutions. Five case studies offer lessons. Read more

  • Building for wildfire

    Building for wildfire

    Brent Powell

    In this video produced by Headwaters Economics, homeowner Brodey Simkins describes the tragedy of losing his home to wildfire and his commitment to rebuilding with wildfire in mind. Read more

  • Wildfire safety standards for Montana

    Wildfire safety standards for Montana

    Kelly Pohl

    Statewide wildfire safety standards are proven and cost effective. Montana can adopt standards to help make communities safer from increasing wildfire risks. Read more

  • Match requirements prevent rural and low-capacity communities from accessing climate resilience funding

    Match requirements prevent rural and low-capacity communities from accessing climate resilience funding

    Kris Smith, Ph.D.

    Many federal grant programs require communities to provide a local match, creating barriers for rural and underserved places. Read more

1 2 3 … 5
Next Page»

Independent Nonpartisan Research

Contact

© 2025 Headwaters Economics, all rights reserved


  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Research
    • Economic Development
    • Equity
    • Natural Hazards
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Public Lands
    • Tax Policy
  • Community Assistance
  • Analysis Tools
  • About Us
  • Contact
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube