Climate Refugees Flock to Rochester: New York City Offers Safe Haven from Extreme Weather

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — After experiencing severe wildfires throughout Southern California in 2020, Jasmin Singer and her spouse, Moore Rhys, decided it was time to leave Los Angeles. They packed up and relocated to New York state.

They considered both Ithaca and Geneva but ultimately chose Rochester, located roughly a six-hour drive northwest of New York City. Their decision was influenced by Rochester’s relatively stable climate and forward-thinking policies aimed at tackling , which results from burning fossil fuels like gasoline and coal.

“Climate was a major factor in our decision,” Singer mentioned about their choice of Rochester.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a joint effort between The Associated Press and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

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Rochester, one of the earliest boomtowns in America and formerly a manufacturing stronghold, has caught the attention of many seeking refuge from extreme weather conditions. Other industrial cities from the mid-20th century like Buffalo, just an hour’s drive away, and Duluth, Minnesota, have similarly been recognized as climate havens due to their lower risk of severe weather events exacerbated by climate change, such as , , and .

Being inland, cities like Rochester, Buffalo, and Duluth are not prone to hurricanes or storm surges. Additionally, their proximity to large lakes provides them with a and shields them from the effects of drought.

While there are stories of individuals relocating to these cities for climatic reasons, a significant demographic shift has yet to be documented.

“We have not yet seen a definitive trend of migration towards climate-friendly or water-abundant areas,” said Alex de Sherbinin, a director and senior researcher at Columbia University’s Center for Integrated Earth System Information.

However, this is likely to change in the upcoming decades as climate becomes an increasingly critical factor in migration decisions. This is already happening in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries that are ill-equipped to handle the shocks of climate change. Each year, over 21 million people are displaced by natural disasters, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Attractive Features of Rochester

A native of New Jersey, Singer found several aspects of Rochester appealing, despite never having visited the city before moving — affordable housing, a shift towards renewable energy, and its proximity to eastern coastal cities were among them.

She also valued the cultural diversity and the inclusive environment for LGBTQ individuals in Rochester.

For Jon Randall, the wildfires that swept through the Bay Area in 2022 prompted his departure from California.

“The air quality was unbearable for six weeks,” Randall explained, noting that he and his wife conducted their search for a new home online. They chose Rochester partly because it was closer to his family in Long Island, his original home.

The typical yearly temperature in Rochester, which boasts a population of 200,000, averages around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), with warmer summers and colder winters. The city hosts the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology. It is also famed for its “garbage plates,” a local comfort dish featuring French fries topped with hamburger meat and baked beans.

Recent years have seen Rochester adopt numerous progressive climate initiatives, including a plan to cut carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. This is part of a broader statewide effort to enhance infrastructure, such as expanding the electric vehicle charging network. In 2019, the city started offering up to $9,000 to new resident homebuyers.

Multiple Reasons Influence Relocation Decisions

Research indicates that people seldom move solely for climate-related reasons; they also consider affordability, family connections, and job prospects.

People seek places where they can sustain a certain lifestyle, and Rochester, with its ample freshwater sources, presents a more appealing option compared to other cities, noted de Sherbinin.

In 2019, Duluth launched an economic development initiative to attract new residents and gained a reputation as a climate-friendly city. That same year, Buffalo’s mayor Byron Brown described his city as a “climate refuge.”

Recent comments from local officials, including in Rochester, have not been forthcoming. Attempts to reach Mayor Malik Evans’ office for this story were unsuccessful.

Rochester’s Growing Latino Community

Over recent years, Rochester has seen a steady increase in its Latino population. Currently, 61,000 residents of Monroe County, the largest county in the Rochester area, identify as Latino or Hispanic, with 70% being Puerto Rican, as per a 2019 report by the Rochester-based Center for Governmental Research.

Arelis Gomez moved to Rochester in 2016 from Puerto Rico in search of better job opportunities and education for her children, following her brother who had moved to New York City earlier.

Her mother, Arelis Ayala, followed in 2019, compelled by the desire to leave since Hurricane Jorge in 1998, which devastated many parts of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico.

“It was a difficult choice,” Ayala said about her decision to move closer to her daughter. She and her daughter hope to eventually bring the rest of their family to Rochester.

Jonathan Gonzalez and his then-pregnant wife relocated to Rochester after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017.

“Living in Puerto Rico was challenging during those days,” Gonzalez remarked, noting that many facilities, including hospitals, were shut down due to power outages.

Since his mother already resided in Rochester, it was a logical destination. Starting anew was tough, but Gonzalez now feels settled.

“I love Rochester,” he stated.

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