The states most at risk from hurricane storm surges, both in the number of homes affected and the total cost of reconstruction, are Florida and Louisiana, according to an analysis from the Insurance Information Institute (III).
Florida this year has more than 2.8 million single-family homes at risk from storm surge during a Category 5 hurricane, with replacement costs estimated at $581 billion in such a storm scenario, III reports. Under the same conditions, Louisiana has more than 843,000 homes at risk, with reconstruction costs estimated at $202 billion.
In a Category 5 hurricane, which typically strikes between June and November during the Atlantic hurricane season, wind speeds reach at least 157 miles per hour.
The number of homes affected and reconstruction values decrease when less powerful hurricanes strike.
Other states found to be vulnerable to such storm conditions include Texas, New York and New Jersey, according to the III analysis.
During a typical season, the Atlantic Ocean produces 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, defined as being in Categories 3 through 5, the study says.
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Hurricane Storm Surge Risk by Number of Homes
| Rank | State | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 | Category 4 | Category 5 |
| 1 | Florida | 353,994 | 1,088,511 | 1,806,312 | 2,362,323 | 2,851,642 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 72,883 | 212,707 | 640,307 | 770,030 | 843,349 |
| 3 | Texas | 41,398 | 122,453 | 264,103 | 399,741 | 563,024 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 95,473 | 277,147 | 381,388 | 471,323 | 471,323 |
| 5 | New York | 76,805 | 228,069 | 351,937 | 467,787 | 467,787 |
| 6 | Virginia | 23,232 | 89,347 | 243,707 | 366,117 | 410,277 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 37,107 | 132,728 | 219,420 | 308,387 | 363,875 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 33,254 | 97,694 | 165,266 | 216,446 | 267,802 |
| 9 | Georgia | 9,378 | 54,470 | 113,068 | 152,882 | 164,504 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 8,102 | 42,832 | 97,083 | 151,979 | 151,979 |
| 11 | Maryland | 16,091 | 59,214 | 98,757 | 126,589 | 126,589 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 5,740 | 25,385 | 56,768 | 90,023 | 102,596 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 847 | 21,378 | 58,921 | 85,794 | 85,794 |
| 14 | Connecticut | 6,708 | 27,921 | 46,186 | 67,433 | 67,433 |
| 15 | Delaware | 10,855 | 31,057 | 49,103 | 67,055 | 67,055 |
| 16 | Alabama | 5,203 | 15,841 | 27,769 | 40,287 | 51,929 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,396 | 7,979 | 17,345 | 26,336 | 26,336 |
| 18 | Maine | 5,657 | 7,912 | 11,969 | 18,149 | 18,149 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 193 | 4,069 | 7,074 | 9,336 | 9.336 |
| Total homes potentially affected | 804,316 | 2,546,714 | 4,656,483 | 6,198,017 | 7,110,779 |
Storm Surge Risk by Reconstruction Values After Hurricanes
| Rank | State | Category 1
(in Millions $) | Category 2
(in Millions $) | Category 3
(in Millions $) | Category 4
(in Millions $) | Category 5
(in Millions $) |
| 1 | Florida | $71,707.90 | $224,088.90 | $372,234.30 | $483,618.40 | $580,606.20 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $15,887.70 | $47,717.20 | $152,745.60 | $184,008.00 | $202,330.00 |
| 3 | New York | $30,410.90 | $95,248.10 | $146,867.20 | $196,107.20 | $196,107.20 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $27,523.20 | $84,974.90 | $119,707.60 | $150,599.60 | $150,599.50 |
| 5 | Texas | $7,467.30 | $22,579.60 | $51,408.90 | $81,181.50 | $113,419.10 |
| 6 | Virginia | $5,962.50 | $22,598.00 | $57,844.10 | $86,624.20 | $98,314.80 |
| 7 | South Carolina | $10,447.70 | $35,063.90 | $55,589.20 | $75,121.40 | $86,468.70 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $7,178.20 | $21,277.70 | $36,350.30 | $47,968.20 | $59,542.60 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $2,306.80 | $12,658.00 | $29,179.00 | $47,309.50 | $47,309.50 |
| 10 | Georgia | $2,869.00 | $14,504.60 | $26,994.00 | $35,215.70 | $37,416.20 |
| 11 | Maryland | $3,878.30 | $14,151.30 | $23,657.90 | $30,518.80 | $30,518.80 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $2,344.50 | $9,635.70 | $15,669.60 | $22,538.40 | $22,538.40 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $193.80 | $5,120.60 | $14,596.00 | $21,349.80 | $21,349.80 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $1,175.20 | $5,247.40 | $11,573.30 | $18,024.10 | $20,467.40 |
| 15 | Delaware | $3,082.80 | $8,693.80 | $13,892.80 | $18,943.90 | $18,943.90 |
| 16 | Alabama | $965.30 | $2,972.10 | $5,112.20 | $7,360.80 | $9,449.80 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $350.20 | $2,339.30 | $5,080.90 | $7,761.30 | $7,761.30 |
| 18 | Maine | $1,314.90 | $1,892.60 | $2,949.90 | $4,589.90 | $4,589.80 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $35.20 | $713.90 | $1,434.10 | $2,038.90 | $2,038.90 |
| Total homes potentially affected | $195,101.50 | $631,477.60 | $1,142,886.90 | $1,520,879.60 | $1,709,772.10 |
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