Sign in

Steve Koller

@stevekoller.bsky.social
626 followers 497 following 294 posts

Insurance Research and Policy Engagement Manager, Insurance for Good www.insuranceforgood.org | Research Fellow at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies jchs.harvard.edu

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Steve Koller
National Weather Service @nws.noaa.gov · 18h
10/08/2026, 4p CT Update Hurricane Isaias has strengthened into a Category 2 storm. Additional strengthening is expected through early Friday, and Isaias should remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast Friday night.
Satellite Image with Forecast Cone and Tropical Warnings   Track & Forecast Labels:   4:00 PM Thu: Hurricane ('H') located in the central Gulf of Mexico.   1:00 AM Fri: Hurricane ('H') continuing north-northeast.   1:00 PM Fri: Hurricane ('H') approaching the central Gulf Coast.   1:00 AM Sat: Tropical Storm ('S') tracking inland near the Mississippi/Alabama state line area.   1:00 PM Sat: Tropical Depression ('D') inland over the Southeast U.S.   Coastal Warnings & Watches:   Red coastline: Hurricane Warning along coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.   Blue coastline: Tropical Storm Warning extending east along the Florida Panhandle.   Description:
Satellite imagery overlaid with a National Hurricane Center forecast track cone showing a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico moving north-northeast toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. Thick cloud bands cover much of the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and adjacent coastal states.
412963
Reposted by Steve Koller
Jared Rennie @jjrennie.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I think a lot about this video made by the Weather Channel indicating how high these actual colors mean. It might seem silly to some, but it's really REALLY informative and helps contextualize the water. Impacts Impacts Impacts #Isaías www.youtube.com/watch?v=q01v...
youtube.com
Storm Surge Like You've Never Experienced it Before
YouTube video by The Weather Channel
0257
Reposted by Steve Koller
Eric Roston @eroston.bsky.social · 19h
El Niñissimo! www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The Current El Niño Is Already Stronger Than Past Events
Sea surface temperature in the eastern tropical Pacific region monitored for El Nino activity

Chart shows Jan-Dec lines for the 1991-2020 average, 1997, 2015, 2023 and 2026, which flies way high above all the others in a kind of supernatural way. Y-axis is temperature in C, ranging from 30 down to 25.
42018
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 22h
Key messages about Hurricane Isaias from the NOAA National Hurricane Center as of 10 a.m. CDT. Expected landfall is tomorrow evening. Isaias is the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, after a historically-inactive June to September period. Live updates: www.nhc.noaa.gov/mobile/refre...
000
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 23h
This vintage hydrant is giving iceberg! Nice visual reminder that so much important public infrastructure is beneath the surface, out of view of the naked eye..
010
Reposted by Steve Koller
Shawn Hubler @shawnhubler.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
He ran L. A.’s major newspaper and the nation’s second largest school district. None of that has fixed the toxic smoke that has poisoned his house. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/06/u...
nytimes.com
L.A. Philanthropist Says Suit Over Fire Damage Is a Blow for the People
Austin Beutner has filed a lawsuit that highlights a central dispute after the 2025 Los Angeles fires: Who pays when a house survives the flames but not the smoke?
1134
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Beautiful, muggy evening on the National Mall last night. Text here is from President Lincoln’s second inaugural address (delivered 35 days before Lee surrendered to Grant and 41 days before his assassination). 🇺🇸
000
Reposted by Steve Koller
Bob Kopp @bobkopp.net · 22/09/2026
NEW PAPER: In a new paper, jointly published in @agu.org Earth's Future & @ametsoc.org BAMS, and co-led by Melissa Kenney, @costasamaras.com and me, 175 authors outline priorities to guide the future of scientific assessments of climate change in the United States. 🧵
doi.org
Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States
A network of climate assessments plays a critical role in synthesizing the state of science to support evidence-based decision-making To support future U.S. and sub-national climate assessments, ...
114884
Reposted by Steve Koller
Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 23/09/2026
There's lots of reasons for despair, but here's a small bit of light: it's not hard to make change when you work together. 175 climate researchers volunteered time to ensure communities are informed about climate risks. Led by Melissa Kenney, @bobkopp.net, & me, free to read: doi.org/10.1029/2025...
doi.org
Research Priorities for Robust Climate Assessments in the United States
A network of climate assessments plays a critical role in synthesizing the state of science to support evidence-based decision-making To support future U.S. and sub-national climate assessments, ...
519261
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Floodnet sensors find flooding across four NYC boroughs during high tide this morning, more than two feet in some neighborhoods around Jamaica Bay. Also a foot and a half in Red Hook.
000
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
According to NYC's Floodnet, some significant flooding during tonight's high tide around Jamaica Bay. Currently 12" at one chronically-flooded location in Arverne in the Rockaways. dataviz.floodnet.nyc
120
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Stevens Flood Advisory System forecasts moderate flood levels in Jamaica Bay-adjacent neighborhoods in Queens at high tide tomorrow morning as a result of this nor'easter. Ensemble forecast doesn't rule out "major flood" levels. hudson.dl.stevens-tech.edu/sfas/d/index...
110
Reposted by Steve Koller
Eos @eos.org · 21/09/2026
Scientists expect very strong El Niño conditions this fall, and California is preparing—Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency today in anticipation of coastal damage and flooding from El Niño-fueled storms. www.sfgate.com/news/article...
sfgate.com
California declares statewide emergency ahead of epic El Niño storms
Gov. Newsom has declared a statewide emergency for California in anticipation of this winter's El Niño-fueled storms
1169
Reposted by Steve Koller
Dr. Jeff Masters @drjeffmasters.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
100 years ago yesterday, the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane caused profound destruction, plunging the city into a deep economic downturn. Four groups say a repeat would cost over $200 billion. Such a catastrophe, like the 1926 hurricane, would cleave Florida history into a “before” and an “after.”
yaleclimateconnections.org
A repeat of Miami’s 1926 hurricane could cost over $280 billion. That's more than Hurricane Katrina. » Yale Climate Connections
A century of development, rising seas, and climate change have made South Florida far more vulnerable to a catastrophic storm.
49640
Reposted by Steve Koller
Steve Bowen @stevebowen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Miami Hurricane, which brought Category 4 wind / surge damage to a city which was still in its infancy. Things have changed A LOT since. Just look at the graphic below highlighting population and housing unit totals from 1900-2025. Staggering! (1/2)
194
Reposted by Steve Koller
Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 10/09/2026
The Trump administration wants to revise the latest National Climate Assessment—three years after publication
latimes.com
The Trump administration wants to revise the latest National Climate Assessment—three years after publication
Experts said amending the finalized federal climate report would be unprecedented.
6136
Reposted by Steve Koller
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies @harvard-jchs.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Extreme heat is getting worse. July 2026 was the warmest month on record and the rates of heat-related illness across geographic regions are disproportionately impacting lower-income communities and communities of color, writes @sophiawedeen.bsky.social. www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/unmet-r...
jchs.harvard.edu
Unmet Repairs Leave Millions Exposed to Extreme Indoor Heat
023
Reposted by Steve Koller
Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 19/08/2026
State approves 'Zone Zero' fire-safe landscaping rules, reshaping yards for millions of Californians
latimes.com
State approves 'Zone Zero' fire-safe landscaping rules, reshaping yards for millions of Californians
The California Board of Forestry approved "Zone Zero" regulations outlining what residents in fire-prone areas can plant, build and store near their homes.
1167
Reposted by Steve Koller
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies @harvard-jchs.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Property insurance costs are a threat to multifamily affordable housing. Recent @gsd.harvard.edu graduate Ariella Amit shares what multifamily affordable housing owners and developers can do to manage high property insurance costs. @neighborworks.bsky.social www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/managin...
jchs.harvard.edu
Managing Property Insurance Costs in Multifamily Affordable Housing Organizations
133
Reposted by Steve Koller
ClimateFran @climatefran.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
There is a lot of interest right now in lowering insurance rates while building resilience to natural disasters. A win-win? Perhaps, but its complicated. New report on Insurance and Risk Reduction from @ckousky.bsky.social at Insurance for Good static1.squarespace.com/static/629aa...
static1.squarespace.com
0173
Reposted by Steve Koller
Marshall Shepherd @drshepherd2013.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
My thoughts on whether World Cup Finals match in New York will be disrupted by wildfire smoke. www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
1167
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Smells like wildfire and looks like Blade Runner in Cambridge, MA today. AQI was above 140 earlier 🔥😷
000
Reposted by Steve Koller
Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
What better way to spend your Sunday than to read 2,500 words on the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act? The next period will hugely shape how the U.S. government supports communities after disasters. My breakdown of the law and key questions moving forward: andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/the-21st-c...
andrewrumbach.substack.com
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is Law: What Comes Next For Disaster Recovery?
On June 23rd, the U.S.
152
Reposted by Steve Koller
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 10/07/2026
President Trump refused to sign a major bipartisan housing bill to protest Republican inaction on voting restrictions. The housing measure will become law without his signature at midnight unless he vetoes it, which he did not say he would do. Follow live updates.
nyti.ms
Live Updates: Trump Refuses to Sign Housing Bill, Which Becomes Law at Midnight Unless He Vetoes It
207523
Reposted by Steve Koller
Nick Angarone @nickangarone.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I’m frustrated. 29 deaths in #NJ from extreme heat last week. More flooding that destroys people’s lives, hurts local businesses, and disrupts our communities. Tens of thousands of homes without power. Again. We need a stable source of state funding for #ClimateResilience.
141
Reposted by Steve Koller
Jesse Gourevitch @jgourevitch.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
🚨 I’m pleased to share a new open-access article published today in the Review of Environmental Economics and Policy: “Managing Unpriced Climate Risks in US Housing Markets” 🚨
23013
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Tragic loss of life. Roughly 75% of French households don’t have air conditioning. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Europe heatwave: Air conditioning creates political divide as France records hottest day
France is being forced to re-think its longstanding reservations about air-conditioning as temperatures soar.
000
Reposted by Steve Koller
Jesse Gourevitch @jgourevitch.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Excited to share a new paper, with co-authors Adam Gold and Helena Garcia, published today in Nature Water: “The economic value of wetlands in reducing riverine flood losses in the USA” 🎉 www.nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com
The economic value of wetlands in reducing riverine flood losses in the USA - Nature Water
Wetland conservation is an undervalued strategy for managing flood risk exacerbated by climate change. This study quantifies the impact of wetland loss on flood insurance claims across the USA, reveal...
1319
Reposted by Steve Koller
Yale Climate Connections @climateconnections.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The best time to prepare for a hurricane is long before one is forecast. If you live in a hurricane-risk area, start your preparations today: yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/07/how-...
yaleclimateconnections.org
How to prepare for a hurricane » Yale Climate Connections
Here's what to do to protect yourself, your property, and your family.
0124
Reposted by Steve Koller
Evan George @evanlgeorge.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
NPR is shrinking its newsroom through layoffs and buyouts and is reducing staff dedicated to covering both climate and science. "The climate desk no longer exists separately but has been folded into the National Desk," writes Neela Banerjee, who headed the climate desk but was just laid off.
23679309
Reposted by Steve Koller
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies @harvard-jchs.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Our Center seeks applications for a 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 to research topics related to home improvement and repair markets, housing preservation and adaptation, disaster recovery and climate resilience, demographics and finances, housing policy, and more. www.jchs.harvard.edu/research-ass...
022
Reposted by Steve Koller
Kyle Walker @kylewalker.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
My home Census tract in Corvallis is now at 94.7% with AC (my parents eventually got it too) More about the data: census.gov/data/experim... Map it at the tract level yourselves: gist.github.com/walkerke/71e...
census.gov
Local Air Conditioning Estimates
021
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
California FAIR Plan's total exposures, number of policies, and earned premiums continue to break records. There were more than 640k policies in effect in March 2026. Roughly half of FAIR Plan policyholders will see a 30-50% increase in premiums starting in October, primarily due to wildfire risks.
000
Reposted by Steve Koller
John Voorheis @johnvoorheis.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
I have two new papers up in this week's NBER working papers (www.nber.org/papers/w35204 and www.nber.org/papers/w35219). Here's a couple of things I learned in pulling these papers together.
nber.org
Flood Risk, Insurance, and Housing in the United States
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
1247
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
2025 was a historic year for wildfire and urban conflagration, with the LA fires becoming the costliest wildfires on record in the US. Rising atmospheric GHG concentrations and an El Niño year set the stage for a challenging wildfire season in 2026. www.insurancejournal.com/news/interna...
insurancejournal.com
Worst Start to Wildfire Season Raises Alarm as El Niño Threatens
Record-breaking heat and drought have fueled the world's worst ever start to a wildfire year, as climate change and a developing El Niño threaten to push
010
Reposted by Steve Koller
Riordan Frost @riordanfrost.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Happy #MapMonday! Where are mobile homes most vulnerable to flooding? Find out in this interactive map from Headwaters Economics: headwaterseconomics.org/natural-haza.... Mobile homes are key to housing affordability, making these climate risks especially urgent to understand and address.
053
Reposted by Steve Koller
Steve Bowen @stevebowen.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Hurricane preparedness tip? If you don't have flood insurance and want it ahead of peak season -- buy it now! There's a standard 30-day waiting period before NFIP policies activate. FYI: NFIP take-up continues to decline, and this cannot be fully attributed to private market options coming online.
01414
Reposted by Steve Koller
Jenny Schuetz @jennyschuetz.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Come join my team! We're hiring an Analyst to join AV's housing team. This is a great opportunity for early-career folks interested in the pro-housing ecosystem to support philanthropic investments, advocacy, and policy engagement. Details below: www.arnoldventures.org/careers/infr...
arnoldventures.org
Arnold Ventures | Infrastructure Analyst, Housing
Explore careers at Arnold Ventures and join teams working toward lasting, measurable change.
01412
Reposted by Steve Koller
Kelly Hereid @kellyhereid.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Delighted to share our new sea level risk project led by Daniel Gonzalez-Duque: But that sea level risk is... UNDERGROUND?? Read on... 🧵 agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
From Hydraulic Heads to Dollars and Decision: It's Time to Integrate Groundwater in Coastal Risk Assessment
Damage to underground infrastructure from groundwater responses to sea level rise can and should be economically quantified Loss functions and life cycle costing are two ways of quantifying econo...
25822
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
County-level data from Insurify and FEMA’s National Risk Index. Article quotes a California homeowner whose homeowners insurance premium rose 9x in two years to more than $16k.
010
Reposted by Steve Koller
John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
25% of non-homeowners in the US expect to buy a home in the next five years. That's the lowest percentage since @gallup.com started asking that question in 2013. news.gallup.com/poll/708995/...
Line chart showing a decline in the percentage of non-homeowners in the United States who expect to buy a home in the next five years. Only 25% of non-homeowners now expect to do so, the lowest percentage in Gallup surveys dating back to 2013.
082
Reposted by Steve Koller
Nature @nature.com · 26/04/2026
All 22 members of the board that advises and oversees the US National Science Foundation (NSF), a leading funder of basic science, were fired on 24 April without explanation. go.nature.com/42tkCGv
go.nature.com
Entire NSF science advisory board fired by Trump administration
Members of the National Science Board, which the US Congress founded in 1950, were given no explanation for their termination.
15184157
Reposted by Steve Koller
Kelly Hereid @kellyhereid.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Not getting a ton of attention, but wildfires in GA/FL have now destroyed 120 structures in the midst of heavy drought conditions 🎁 Wildfires Destroy Dozens of Structures in Georgia, Governor Says www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/u...
nytimes.com
Wildfires Destroy Dozens of Structures in Georgia, Governor Says
22420
Reposted by Steve Koller
Miriam Wasser @miriamwasser.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
"Everything helps!" Massachusetts officials predicted the average household with a heat pump would save $540 on their electric bills this past winter, thanks to the new discounted heat pump rate. www.wbur.org/news/2026/04...
0116
Reposted by Steve Koller
Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 17/04/2026
When NYC rezoned Brooklyn's Gowanus neighborhood to allow high-density residential uses along a cleaned-out canal, it hoped to attract thousands of new housing units. That's exactly what it got, new research comparing upzoned areas to similar, non-upzoned areas shows: www.urban.org/research/pub...
New residential buildings in Gowanus. Source: https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/boom-times-continue-major-new-gowanus-projects/Upzonings in New York City produced substantial increases in housing supply. Source: https://www.urban.org/research/publication/how-big-upzonings-affect-housing-supply
416534
Reposted by Steve Koller
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 16/04/2026
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Thursday that New York City will invest in a new program to provide cheaper property and liability insurance to landlords of affordable housing and rent-stabilized buildings.
nytimes.com
Mamdani Announces Plan to Lower Insurance Costs for Landlords
417628
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Such a key point! This construction productivity trend plot from Richmond Fed also nags at my mind in these convos. Not exactly moving in the right direction when it costs more to rebuild a house than it did to build in the first place.. www.richmondfed.org/publications...
110
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Far-below-average snowpack in California (just 23% of historical average as of today) is creating conditions for elevated wildfire risks this season. Earlier-than-usual fuel clearing, home hardening, and creation of defensible space can mitigate some of these risks. calmatters.org/environment/...
calmatters.org
What California’s awful snowpack means for fire season
With reservoirs brimming, but snowpack abysmal, experts warn of a potentially early fire season.
041
Steve Koller @stevekoller.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Don't have project-level info like in the RAND study at arm's length, but definitely see similar regional building cost differences for single-family in Census's Survey of Construction data. eyeonhousing.org/2025/10/squa...
eyeonhousing.org
Square Foot Prices Moderate in 2024 – Eye On Housing
Median square foot prices for new single-family detached (SFD) homes started in 2024 grew modestly, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest Survey of Construction (SOC) data. For custom, or contrac...
110