Areas in the U.S. Most at Risk and Most Prepared for Hurricanes

As hurricane season arrives, we thought it appropriate to look at the states most at risk, as well as those most and least prepared. The first list required gathering some data. The second required both data and analysis. 

Here are our lists of most at risk and most prepared. Plus, don’t miss our tips for preparing your home for the coming hurricane season.

States at Risk of Hurricane Damage 

NOAA has published a listing of hurricane direct hits by state from 1851 to 2020. That list provides a reasonable prediction of where we can expect the next hurricanes. We’ve ranked them by total hurricanes and included the number of major hurricanes.

Hurricane Direct Hits by State 1851-2020

Ranking	State	Total Hurricanes	Major Hurricanes
1	Florida	120	37
2	Texas	65	19
3	North Carolina	58	7
4	Louisiana	58	18
5	South Carolina	30	5
6	Alabama	25	5
7	Georgia	22	3
8	Mississippi	19	8
9	Virginia	12	0
10	Massachusetts	12	1
11	Connecticut	11	2
12	Rhode Island	10	3
13	New Jersey	4	0
14	Maine	3	0
15	Maryland	2	0
16	Delaware	2	0
17	Pennsylvania	1	0
18	New Hampshire	1	0

North Carolina ranks third with 58 direct hurricane hits and seven major hurricanes.

Hurricane Preparedness by State

Our analysis starts with the 18 states from the high-risk list above. We then examine two elements that demonstrate preparedness for disasters including hurricanes. 

The response ranking is based on the number of National Guard members by state. Since this is often the first group deployed in a natural disaster, it’s a solid indication of the state’s ability to respond to disasters. 

The emergency budget ranking is the total amount of a state’s budget that is allocated to emergencies and disasters. This is a reasonable indicator of the resources available.

Both are then compared state-by-state on a per capita basis to develop the two ranking lists. The overall score is the sum of both rankings.

Hurricane Preparedness by State

Preparedness Ranking	State	Response Ranking	Emergency Budget Ranking	Overall Score
1	Delaware	3	2	5
2	Louisiana	5	1	6
3	Rhode Island	2	6	8
4	Alabama	4	5	9
5	Mississippi	1	8	9
6	Connecticut	10	3	13
7	South Carolina	7	7	14
8	New Hampshire	8	9	17
9	Georgia	11	10	21
10	Florida	18	4	22
11	Maine	6	17	23
12	Massachusetts	12	12	24
13	Virginia	15	11	26
14	Pennsylvania	9	18	27
15	Maryland	14	14	28
16	North Carolina	13	15	28
17	New Jersey	16	13	29
18	Texas	17	16	33

North Carolina ranked 16^th overall, with response at 13^th and budget at 15^th.

Hurricane Preparation Tips

Wind, rain, flooding, and power loss are the four primary risks of a hurricane.

• Wind. The most vulnerable parts of your home are the windows and doors. A broken window not only allows rain into your home but more damaging is the wind. That wind places a great deal of pressure on the walls and can raise the roof. Use hurricane shutters or place plywood over your windows. Install a wind-load garage door to greatly improve this part of your home.
• Rain. Heavy rain can enter your home via a damaged roof or by pooling around your basement or crawl space. Keep your roof repaired by replacing missing shingles and damaged vents. Keep your gutters and downspouts clear so they can route water off the roof and away from the foundation.
• Flooding. The best preparation for flooding around your home is to waterproof your basement. That should include repairing any cracks, adding a drainage system, and installing a sump pump with a backup battery that can take over during power outages. 
• Power loss. Hurricanes can bring down power poles, shutting down electrical power. Restoring power could take days of work clearing up damage and installing power lines. A small generator can help a great deal in these situations. It can power your appliances, keep food refrigerated, and charge your cell phone to help with communication. 

We Can Help

We experience all the elements of our changeable weather from our offices in Charlotte, NC, as well as throughout the surrounding area. We can identify any issues with your basement or crawl space that need to be addressed before a hurricane or tropical storm arrives. 

For a free inspection, contact the professionals at Dry Pro Foundation and Crawl Space Specialists.