Insurance crisis leaves homeowners vulnerable in hurricane-prone Louisiana

Climate change is driving more powerful hurricanes [File: John Locher/AP Photo]

After Charles Barnette and his wife bought their home in 2015 in LaPlace, Louisiana, United States, neighbours warned of devastating floods from past hurricanes. But Barnette never imagined how bad it could be.

In 2021, Category 4 Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana with a huge storm surge and extreme winds, causing an estimated $18bn in insured losses.