Shifts In Climate Patterns Parallel Community Realities: How Concerns About Climate Change And Weatherization Reflect Access To Wealth
In Southwest Atlanta, legacy residents and younger generations are learning how to navigate climate change and environmental burdens. They are simultaneously dealing with the long-term effects institutional neglect has had on public infrastructure in the city, including high demands on energy sources and utilities in their neighborhoods.
Approximately 69% of Atlanta survey respondents say they are somewhat or very worried about climate change’s impact on their property (Figure 6). When asked which climate-related risks they are most uneasy about, Southwest Atlanta residents listed extreme weather events (e.g., storms, hurricanes, tornadoes), extreme heat, flooding, and periods of extended droughts as their greatest concerns. One in five residents said they have already experienced f inancial loss from these kinds of events (Figure 7).
“...I reached out to [business] to see if they could weatherize my basement… It was, like, a little bit of water, because, again, my yard is low. A little bit of runoff. And I’m thinking, “Is that going to make my house crash to the ground? My infrastructure? And also, like, how will that impact my heating and cooling with, you know… I go down there and I insulate that. Honestly, they had quoted me $8,000. I was like, I don’t have that. I don’t have it. I don’t have it.
Homeowner
Two-thirds of Atlanta residents say high utility bills and the need to weatherize their homes prevent them from saving money, affecting their ability to grow assets (Figure 8). The precarious financial footing of some Atlanta residents impedes their capacity to prepare for their financial futures. Although home ownership is perceived to provide some semblance of economic stability tied to wealth, homeowners are bearing the financial burden of weatherizing their homes to protect them from extreme weather patterns and to reduce utility costs.
“One person’s [power] has been off… for like a month. They hang out on the porch [in the summer]… I know a lot of people in my neighborhood who don’t have power. And people who tell me stories of not having power for long periods of time and using power ports from neighbors... But yeah, I do have a lot of friends and neighbors who have experienced that.” – Homeowner
One method of protection property owners turn to is insurance. However, only 1 in 3 residents (31%) report having insurance coverage that protects against natural disasters (Figure 9). And among 87 residents who responded that they experienced a climate-related event, only 21% said they applied for and received government assistance through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) relief or state aid when a climate event occurred. Uncertainty of financial reimbursement after weather emergencies can be unsettling since residents may be unsure whether they will be covered or if they can afford uncovered costs.
“… I do have [insurance], so when certain things go down, like my furnace goes out, or my AC goes out, I can call them. Last time my AC went out, though... Freon was crazy expensive. [I] had to pay, like… Well, I had the service fee, was like $75. I think the freon was, like, $100. Whatever it is. So I had to pay a lot for that. But I will say that has been helpful, having the warranty program for me. Because I don’t have access to $6,000…” – Homeowner
“Okay, so we have our own insurance, and then the tenants have to have their own insurance. So the way that these companies are set up… At these insurance companies, I don’t know what’s covered. They just sent me something the other day telling me they were taking something out of my coverage. And I’m like, “What? Why?” The price didn’t go down.” – Property owner and business owner
Problems with inadequate coverage can become even more burdensome when poor city infrastructure leads to property damage, and property owners must rely on the city to fix it. Southwest Atlanta residents strongly desire more infrastructure support to keep their communities safe and clean. When external support is limited, neighborhood residents rely on one another to attend to the damage in their communities. They provide each other with support or pay out of pocket for repairs, increasing personal costs, and even potentially putting their health at risk with environmentally hazardous repairs. The emotional burden of managing these disasters when there is failure to render aid leaves Southwest Atlanta residents feeling distrustful, weighed down, and exhausted, unsure of what to do or how to bring about lasting change.
“The drain always gets clogged. I have an older lady… She comes to clean the drain all the time because she knows that that water will get there and it’ll flood, and it’ll go into our other neighbor’s house. So a lot of it has to do with the infrastructure, but also unfortunately, people that work there. Like what they prioritize and communities that are important to them. A lot of things that happen in my neighborhood don’t happen in [Buckhead], and that’s all supposed to do with Atlanta. It is, what it is!” – Homeowner
