Austin has dipped to the 13th largest city, and the fourth fastest-growing region in the country due to slowdowns in key pull factors and job growth.
In addition to damaging properties, wildfire can also cut off access to utilities, emergency services, impact evacuation routes, and may impact the overall economic well-being of an area.
"While domestic out-migration, particularly of young residents seeking better opportunities, has been a long-standing issue for Hawaii, the recent data indicates a significant shift. Increases in the population are now attributed to Hawaii-born individuals returning home, indicating a change in migration patterns post-pandemic."
"I saw the writing on the wall," Gates told Business Insider. "I'm five years away from planned retirement, and I was worried about the cost of living and my quality of life. I've been through flooding in South Beach and still see people posting pictures of the same problems."
Every year, millions of Americans bounce around the country like electrons, moving from one state to another. But there are patterns in this chaos, and one of the clearest in recent decades is that Americans are moving from blue states to red states.