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“We have to look at insurability as viability of communities, because if people can’t stay insured, then they’re not going to stay in places.”
Adam Reeder, principal investigator at CDM Smith
In October, stakeholders representing an unusual combination of sectors — public, private, academic, non-profit and journalism — gathered with insurance industry experts at the 10X Convergence in Jacksonville, Florida, to explore solutions to unsustainable insurance and disaster recovery costs throughout the Interstate 10 region.
Insurers continue to cancel homeowners policies across California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida as exposure to accelerating billion-dollar disasters undermines carriers’ ability to pay out claims while remaining solvent. The industry crisis has begun to spread northward, where a widening Tornado Alley sees growing impacts from property-damaging storms.
This is a complex, all-hands-on-deck issue. Insurance practices and building standards have not adapted to the realities of climate change, and have neglected potential to be of powerful mutual support to one another. On the whole, 10X Convergence participants were clear that viable solutions will require a combination of applied climate and economic research with proactive governance and communications strategies, and that this must be matched by industry willingness to innovate its systems of underwriting and community development.
In this podcast, Ten Across journalists Maya Chari and Taylor Griffith take you through the problems and potential solutions discussed by the diverse group of experts at the 10X Convergence.
Relevant Articles and Resources
VIDEO: 10X Convergence Event Wrap Up
“It’s harder to get home insurance. That’s changing communities across the U.S.” (NPR, November 2025)
“They survived the hurricane. Their insurance company didn’t.” (Grist, November 2025)
“Insurance for Physical Climate Risk Management: Lessons from History” (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, August 2025)
“Next to Fall: The Climate-Driven Insurance Crisis is Here—And Getting Worse” (Senate Budget Committee, December 2024)
Relevant Ten Across Conversations Podcasts
The Future of Insurability: New Approaches and Mindsets
Carolyn Kousky on Using Insurance Models to Drive Positive Change
Checking in with Dave Jones on California’s Insurance Outlook
Credits
Hosts: Maya Chari and Taylor Griffith
Producer and editor: Taylor Griffith
Music by: Out To The World, Marten Moses, Lennon Hutton, and Pearce Roswell
Research and support provided by: Duke Reiter, Kate Carefoot, Rae Ulrich, and Sabine Butler
Guest Bios (in order of appearance):
Steve Bowen is the Chief Science Officer and meteorologist at Gallagher Re.
Adam Reeder is a civil-structural engineer and principal investigator at CDM Smith.
Juliet Rogers is the president of Blue Cottage at CannonDesign.
Laura Phillips-Edgecombe is the duPont Fund principal for public spaces and executive on loan to the City of Jacksonville, Florida.
Clint Noble is a member of the City of Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board and professional geologist with CDM Smith.
Dr. Quinton White is founding executive director of the Marine Science Research Institute and professor emeritus at Jacksonville University.
Alex Harris is the lead climate reporter for the Miami Herald.
Pete Nelson is the communications director for the Gulf Research Program at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Dave Hondula is the director of the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation at the City of Phoenix.
Casi Callaway is the founder and president of Activate Build Connect.
Eric Corey Freed is the director of sustainability at CannonDesign.
Sarina Beges is the associate director of philanthropy and social innovation at the Aspen Institute.
Ashantae Green is the sustainability manager for the City of Jacksonville, Florida.
