The most and least disaster-prone states in US
Asher Notheis
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All residents of the United States are created equal, though not all states are equal when it comes to natural disasters.
Natural disasters caused by the weather can occur more often in some states than others, such as hurricanes, fires, and tornadoes. Texas and Florida, two states that have both endured hurricanes and other natural disasters, each had three cities in a list of the top 15 biggest growing cities in the U.S., according to a survey conducted by the Hill.
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“The data actually shows that some of the fastest-growing cities are some of those that are at the greatest risk of disasters,” said Diane Vukovic, a disaster-preparedness expert.
Texas
With 368 major disasters from 1953 through 2022, Texas has undergone the most natural disasters in all 50 states. One of the most recent ones to leave an impression was Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which had more than $125 billion in damage and killed 103 state residents.
Mississippi
The Magnolia State is known for its flooding and hurricane disasters. Vukovic said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has logged more than a million flood-damage claims in the state since 2000.
Since the year 2000, Mississippi has experienced 50 disaster declarations, including three hurricanes: Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and Hurricane Ida in 2021. The state is also prone to tornado risk, with 50 twisters in the state every year.
Oklahoma
As a state sitting in Tornado Alley, Oklahoma has undergone more than 217 major disasters since 1953. Pontotoc County, a county located in southeastern Oklahoma, was labeled in a study as the single likeliest spot for a tornado in the entire U.S.
Beyond tornadoes, the state is also a high risk for flooding and has experienced both wildfires and ice storms.
California
Discussions around natural disasters in the Golden State usually are about wildfires, which in 2018 killed 103 people and caused $26 billion in damage. But California is also known for earthquakes, droughts, and heat waves.
Since 2000, the state has experienced 285 declared disasters.
Florida
Florida is a state that has dealt with both flooding and hurricanes for years, with Hurricane Ian killing at least 160 people last year.
In terms of flooding, Miami-Dade County officials are expecting sea levels to rise 10 to 17 inches between 2000 and 2040.
Though some states are much more prone to natural disasters than others, some states can be quite safe places to live.
Maine
The biggest weather concern Maine residents have to worry about is snow, with a storm in March 2018 dropping 21 inches on the city of Bangor. Annually, the state also receives 50 to 70 inches of snow.
Vermont
Vermont is also a state where snow is the biggest concern of natural disasters. However, residents or anyone considering moving to the state should know that disaster declarations are growing more frequent in the state due to increased flood risk.
New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire is the third lowest state in regard to natural disasters, with the state’s Department of Safety’s website showing major disasters at a rate of only one or two a year. Like Maine and Vermont, snow is the biggest concern, with 98 inches in parts of New Hampshire getting dumped in 1969 in the time span of 100 hours.
Alaska
While incredibly cold, Alaska ranks second on a list of states least affected by disasters. Alaska is not disaster-free, though, as in 1964 it experienced an earthquake with a 9.2 magnitude that caused more than 100 deaths.
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Delaware
The state of Delaware is the second smallest state in the U.S., and it is one of the states to experience the lowest number of disasters. Since 2000, the state has only made 10 major disaster declarations.
The state does have a share of rain and flooding thanks to downgraded hurricanes, something residents ought to be aware of.