As The 2026 Hurricane Season Begins, These Are The Most Vulnerable States

The Atlantic basin is an area that includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of America, and each year, between June 1st and November 30th, climatic conditions across the region greatly increase the likelihood of hurricane formations. The United States, with over 2,000 miles of coastline along the Atlantic and another 1,631 miles along the Gulf, has some of the highest exposure to hurricane risk of any country in the world. As a result, communities across much of the country will be on heightened alert for the next six months. 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Atlantic basin has an average of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes each year. While not all of these storms make landfall, the consequences of those that do are often catastrophic. Between 1980 and 2024, the U.S. has been hit by an average of 1.5 major hurricanes per year, each causing an average of $34.3 billion in damage. Cumulatively, these major hurricanes – or those resulting in at least $1 billion in damage – have left an estimated $1.6 trillion of destruction in their wake. 

Encouragingly, researchers with NOAA predict the 2026 hurricane season will be less active than normal. Still, experts warn there is a 10% chance that the next six months will have above-average hurricane activity. But no matter how active the current hurricane season proves to be, a single storm that makes landfall can destroy billions of dollars in property and claim thousands of lives – particularly in certain parts of the country. 

In the second edition of our three part series on hurricanes in the United States, Climate Crisis 247 identified the most vulnerable states in this year’s hurricane season. Using data from Coality’s 2026 Hurricane Risk Report, we ranked the 10 states where the most homes are identified as being at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage. Supplemental data on the number of homes at moderate or greater risk of hurricane storm surges and the replacement cost value of at-risk homes are also from Coality. We also calculated the share of all homes in each state that are at risk of hurricane damage using the total number of households, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. Additional data on the most destructive storms to impact each state are as reported by NOAA. Storm-specific statistics include all associated damage and fatalities across all impacted states. 

10. Mississippi

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 837,860 ($241.8 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 107,994 ($33.1 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 1,359,223 (61.6% at risk of hurricane winds; 7.9% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in Mississippi history: Hurricane Katrina, August 2005 ($201.3 billion in damage, 1,833 fatalities)

9. Virginia

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 1,146,781 ($426.4 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 211,437 ($73.6 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 3,746,211 (30.6% at risk of hurricane winds; 5.6% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in Virginia history: Hurricane Helene, September 2024 ($78.7 billion in damage, 219 fatalities)

8. South Carolina

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 1,482,345 ($476.9 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 370,534 ($130.8 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 2,531,310 (58.6% at risk of hurricane winds; 14.6% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in South Carolina history: Hurricane Irma, September 2017 ($64.0 billion in damage, 97 fatalities)

7. Louisiana

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 1,657,255 ($515.7 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 776,263 ($261.6 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 2,138,882 (77.5% at risk of hurricane winds; 36.3% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in Louisiana history: Hurricane Katrina, August 2005 ($201.3 billion in damage, 1,833 fatalities)

6. Massachusetts

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 1,785,383 ($1.0 trillion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 165,718 ($79.8 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 3,057,853 (58.4% at risk of hurricane winds; 5.4% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in Massachusetts history: Hurricane Sandy, October 2012 ($88.5 billion in damage, 159 fatalities)

5. New Jersey

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 2,208,651 ($1.2 trillion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 363,153 ($166.3 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 3,816,432 (57.9% at risk of hurricane winds; 9.5% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in New Jersey history: Hurricane Sandy, October 2012 ($88.5 billion in damage, 159 fatalities)

4. New York

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 2,213,104 ($1.2 trillion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 418,430 ($227.1 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 8,676,911 (25.5% at risk of hurricane winds; 4.8% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in New York history: Hurricane Sandy, October 2012 ($88.5 billion in damage, 159 fatalities)

3. North Carolina

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 3,165,030 ($1.1 trillion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 244,970 ($79.2 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 5,073,509 (62.4% at risk of hurricane winds; 4.8% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in North Carolina history: Hurricane Helene, September 2024 ($78.7 billion in damage, 219 fatalities)

2. Texas

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 4,763,476 ($1.5 trillion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 445,198 ($135.0 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 12,616,736 (37.8% at risk of hurricane winds; 3.5% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in Texas history: Hurricane Harvey, August 2017 ($160.0 billion in damage, 89 fatalities)

1. Florida

• Homes at moderate to severe risk of hurricane wind damage: 8,249,592 ($2.3 trillion reconstruction cost value)
• Homes at moderate to severe risk of storm surge damage: 2,471,415 ($747.6 billion reconstruction cost value)
• Total number of homes in state: 10,629,845 (77.6% at risk of hurricane winds; 23.2% at risk of storm surge)
• Most destructive hurricane in Florida history: Hurricane Ian, September 2022 ($119.6 billion in damage, 152 fatalities)