Americans Are Flocking to These Hurricane-Prone Places
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/07215009/j7vbbmthmjy-150x150.jpgThis year, forecasters are warning of an above-average Atlantic hurricane season, with warmer ocean temperatures fueling more intense storms. Yet even as evacuation plans are tested and coastal cities brace for landfall, millions of Americans are moving into cities most likely to be impacted by a hurricane.
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As part of its efforts to support disaster preparedness and risk reduction, FEMA quantifies risk of natural hazards like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods for all counties in the United States. New analysis shows that many of the counties ranked “very high” risk for hurricane danger – coastal communities stretching from Florida to Texas to the Carolinas – are seeing massive influxes of new residents in recent years. Hillsborough County, Florida, for example – where Hurricane Milton caused over $30 billion in damage last year – gained 60,000 new residents due to net migration from 2020 to 2023, ranking sixth among hurricane-prone counties. A closer look at the data reveals the hurricane-prone counties Americans are flocking to the most.
A new analysis by Climate Crisis 247 shows that many of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. are also among the most at risk for hurricanes. From Florida to Texas to the Carolinas, communities with “very high” hurricane danger — as rated by FEMA — are seeing massive population inflows. Polk County, Florida, which has added nearly 95,000 residents since 2020, ranks No. 1. Other hotspots include Montgomery County, Texas, and Lee County, Florida, both of which added more than 79,000 people during the same period. Despite extreme vulnerability, access to affordable housing, warm weather, and job growth continue to draw new residents to the storm belt — raising long-term concerns about insurance markets, infrastructure resilience, and emergency response capacity.
To determine the hurricane zones people are flocking to, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on population change due to net migration from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates program and natural hazard risk for counties from the March 2023 FEMA National Risk Index dataset. Counties classified as “relatively high” or “very high” risk of hurricane by FEMA were ranked based on total population change due to net migration from April 2020 to July 2023.
25. Pinellas County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +21,848 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.7/100
- Total population: 961,596
- County seat: Clearwater
24. Berkeley County, SC
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +22,774 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 98.6/100
- Total population: 255,217
- County seat: Moncks Corner
23. Baldwin County, AL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +23,082 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 98.9/100
- Total population: 253,507
- County seat: Bay Minette
22. Hernando County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +24,135 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 97.5/100
- Total population: 212,807
- County seat: Brooksville
21. Brunswick County, NC
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +26,144 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 98.4/100
- Total population: 159,964
- County seat: Bolivia
20. Charlotte County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +26,686 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 98.1/100
- Total population: 206,134
- County seat: Punta Gorda
19. Duval County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +27,300 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 98.8/100
- Total population: 1,030,822
- County seat: Jacksonville
18. Collier County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +32,303 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.5/100
- Total population: 404,310
- County seat: East Naples
17. Marion County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +43,614 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 97.3/100
- Total population: 409,959
- County seat: Ocala
16. Osceola County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +44,165 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 96.4/100
- Total population: 437,784
- County seat: Kissimmee
15. Manatee County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +45,913 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.2/100
- Total population: 441,095
- County seat: Bradenton
14. Lake County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +46,645 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 96.5/100
- Total population: 424,462
- County seat: Tavares
13. St. Lucie County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +47,334 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.1/100
- Total population: 373,586
- County seat: Fort Pierce
12. St. Johns County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +48,227 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 96.0/100
- Total population: 320,110
- County seat: St. Augustine
11. Sarasota County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +48,445 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.3/100
- Total population: 469,013
- County seat: Sarasota
10. Volusia County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +48,888 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 98.2/100
- Total population: 590,357
- County seat: DeLand
9. Palm Beach County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +49,293 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.9/100
- Total population: 1,533,801
- County seat: West Palm Beach
8. Brevard County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +49,354 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.7/100
- Total population: 643,979
- County seat: Titusville
7. Horry County, SC
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +52,189 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.6/100
- Total population: 397,478
- County seat: Conway
6. Hillsborough County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +62,932 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.8/100
- Total population: 1,535,564
- County seat: Tampa
5. Pasco County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +78,725 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.6/100
- Total population: 632,996
- County seat: Dade City
4. Fort Bend County, TX
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +79,820 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.2/100
- Total population: 916,778
- County seat: Richmond
3. Lee County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +79,992 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 99.8/100
- Total population: 834,573
- County seat: Fort Myers
2. Montgomery County, TX
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +80,887 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 95.8/100
- Total population: 711,354
- County seat: Conroe
1. Polk County, FL
- Population change due to net migration, 2020 to 2023: +94,601 residents
- FEMA hurricane risk rating: 98.7/100
- Total population: 818,330
- County seat: Bartow
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