Axios

Houses have historically been a key driver of middle-class wealth creation — but when some or all of your house gets destroyed in a flood, it feels less like an asset and more like a liability. That's a scenario of concern to millions of Americans this hurricane season.

Why it matters: Only a tiny proportion of Americans have flood insurance — and yet their insurance bills are already soaring.

A second Donald Trump presidency would usher in a new type of class warfare — empowering populists to steamroll mainstream experts on issues such as climate change, economics and public health.

Why it matters: This year's devastating hurricane season has exposed the perils of Trump's war on climate experts, who have long warned that human-caused global warming is exacerbating extreme weather.

The northern lights returned to skies across the U.S. and the world over Thursday night after a powerful solar storm triggered stunning celestial displays also known as aurora borealis.

The big picture: Extreme G4 geomagnetic conditions were observed Thursday and remained overnight, per NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, which warned the storm had the potential to disrupt communications and the electric power grid.

A group of House Democrats in districts hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton is urging tech companies to crack down on misinformation and scams about the storms and recovery efforts, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Lawmakers in both parties have been straining to stem the swarm of hurricane-related misinformation, with one Republican even issuing a fact sheet debunking common conspiracy theories.

As Florida and other parts of the southeast recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, meteorologists have been contending with an onslaught of conspiracy theories and threats they say are distinct from previous storms.

Why it matters: Officials have repeatedly warned that misinformation around the storms imperil lives and hamper response efforts.

It is a delicate time for the economy, with mixed signals as to whether the job market is chugging along fine — or faltering. Assessing what's going on is about to get harder.

The big picture: The triple whammy of Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, and the Boeing strike are likely to distort economic data in the coming weeks, making the usual indicators of the economy's health more difficult to dissect.

The National Hurricane Center's track forecasts for the eventual path of Hurricane Milton were unusually accurate, starting from the first storm advisory.

Why it matters: The early confidence in the eventual path of Hurricane Milton allowed officials time to warn the public and prepare communities for the powerful storm.

New reports together present a sobering view of the potential for large-scale hydrogen production using renewable electricity.

Why it matters: Climate-friendly hydrogen can slash carbon from heavy industries, power, and moving freight. But volumes today are tiny.

Hurricane Milton has resulted in at least eight deaths, as officials continued to survey damage from the storm on Thursday.

The big picture: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the death toll from Wednesday night's hurricane was expected to rise in coming days, and the state was working to restore power and replenish fuel supply. Over 2.6 million people remained without electricity as of 8:45pm ET Thursday.