Hurricane Helene, the climate change-fueled tropical cyclone that pummeled much of the American southeast in late September, has claimed more than 230 lives with some estimates of damages ranging from $30 to 47.5 billion. But these statistics reflect a genuine human cost, such as that of a 27-year-old mother who died with her twin babies after a tree fell through the roof of their Thomson, Georgia home.
Among other things, Hurricane Helene has demonstrated that it is impossible to flee from climate change, as some of the impacted communities (like the city of Asheville) were believed to be safe from the impact of climate change. But it also has other implications for quality of life, including something many may not consider being linked to climate change: insurance rates.
