States Most at Risk for Hurricane Damage

Source: realtor.com

Hurricane season is here, and coastal homeowners are preparing for a potentially active period. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts 13 to 19 named storms this season (June 1–Nov. 30), with 6 to 10 becoming hurricanes, including 3 to 5 major ones (Category 3 or higher).

Damaging storms are a familiar threat along the East Coast. Florida is still recovering from Hurricane Milton, which hit Siesta Key on Oct. 9, 2024, as a Category 3 storm after peaking at Category 5, causing $34 billion in damage. This followed Hurricane Helene 12 days earlier, which caused up to $47.5 billion in damage across 16 states. Hurricanes’ unpredictable paths put many homeowners at risk of severe losses.

States at Higher Hurricane Risk

A 2025 hurricane risk report by Cotality, a data-driven tech company, found more than 33.1 million residential properties with a combined reconstruction cost value (RCV) of $11.7 trillion are at moderate or greater risk of sustaining damage from hurricane-force winds. Florida, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts are among the leading states with homes and RCV with moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage. Florida has the greatest number of homes with moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage at 8,178,843 and an RCV of $2,321.2 billion.

Florida leads with over 2.4 million homes at moderate or higher risk of storm surge damage, valued at $667.5 billion. From 2019 to 2023, over half a million residents moved within the state to cheaper markets like Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando. However, Tampa, once seen as safer, suffered damage from Hurricane Milton. Additionally, many Floridians are leaving the state, seeking home loans in Georgia (15%), North Carolina (10%), Texas (8%), Tennessee (8%), and South Carolina (7%).

Helping Hand

When the first hurricane of the season strikes will be the first true test of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA head David Richardson nearly finished a new hurricane-response plan, but staff say it was dropped in favor of last year’s guidance. The agency faces staff cuts, travel and training reductions, and key vacancies due to government efficiency measures. The Trump administration has criticized FEMA for inadequate disaster response.

Traditionally, FEMA staffers go door-to-door helping storm survivors, but the program has been scaled back. FEMA employees have said the agency is months behind its hurricane preparation schedule, according to the Journal.