Max Besbris studies how climate disasters affect housing decisions, with particular attention
to how people assess risk and how post-disaster policies influence rebuilding versus
relocation choices.
His research is increasingly urgent as climate-related disasters affect growing numbers of
Americans each year, revealing critical gaps in risk communication and recovery options that
leave many households rebuilding in vulnerable locations.
By examining these dynamics and advocating for managed retreat policies, Besbris’s work
aims to help communities develop more sustainable housing patterns that can withstand
environmental uncertainties while providing residents with meaningful choices about where
and how to live after disasters.