Just a note about analyzing population trends to finish out the evening. We’ve covered plenty of stories here about the massive outflux of population and particularly businesses from California over the past year or two. Most of them display the results of residents and business owners giving in to despair over the state of the Golden State as crime, homelessness, and other factors driven by bad Democratic policies make the state increasingly unlivable. Another common theme shows that many of those who are departing head for red states, with Florida being one of the largest beneficiaries. But today I saw a few wags on social media pointing to some coverage of businesses folding up and leaving Florida. ‘See? People are leaving Ron DeSantis’ state too!” One such article appeared in the Tampa Bay Times today and it involved Farmers Insurance largely pulling out of Florida. But a quick look at the details reveals that Farmers isn’t pulling out because of any governmental policies or a failing housing market in Florida. They’re leaving because of acts of God.

Another insurer is leaving Florida, where homeowners are paying more than ever for insurance, despite the state’s attempt to shore up the wobbling market.

On Tuesday, Farmers Insurance informed the state it was dropping home, auto and umbrella policies across Florida, potentially affecting tens of thousands of people. It’s the fourth company to leave the Florida market in the last year — most citing rising risks from hurricanes. Farmers, a large company with a national presence, also has reduced new business in California, citing extreme weather and wildfire threats.

“This business decision was necessary to effectively manage risk exposure,” the company wrote in a statement.

The “risk exposure that Farmers is dealing with has nothing to do with Florida’s housing market. It’s not that people are fleeing Florida’s governmental policies and making the housing market less stable. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Population growth has driven up the demand for housing to the point where it’s becoming unaffordable for some, despite the state’s efforts to accelerate new housing construction.

Farmers Insurance is managing their risk exposure because along with Florida’s famously favorable, sunny weather comes the risk of hurricanes every year that cause widespread damage and massive claims that the company has to pay off. And before anyone starts in on how it must be climate change driving this problem, Florida has been plagued with good and bad years for hurricanes for all of recorded history. It comes with the territory. And even if it was “global warming,” Ron DeSantis’ policies didn’t cause it.

When there are too many claims to cover, insurance companies start to lose money. They raise rates in response, but that can only be pushed just so far before it impacts the buyer’s market. The problem also impacts the rental market, as landlords have to bear the same cost burdens when apartment complexes are damaged or destroyed during severe storms.

Florida has a lot to offer to people considering a move. And for the most part, the weather is a significant factor, though things have become a lot better (including more freedom and less wokeness) in recent years. But the state sits in the firing line of the typical path of Atlantic hurricanes each season. And every once in a while, a big one is going to come ashore. (Sorry kids… it’s just science. Not “The Science.”) And it has nothing to do with politics. So enjoy the weather while it’s good, which is most of the time, and have an emergency plan when a storm approaches, particularly if you live near the coast. Just don’t blame Ron DeSantis for Farmers leaving. He’s doing the best he can, but God is the final decision-maker in this matter.