States with lower hurricane risks identified amid increasing extreme weather events

Hurricane Helene has become one of the deadliest storms in history, resulting in at least 215 fatalities and leaving thousands missing. The storm displaced residents from Florida to Virginia, and more than a week after its impact, approximately 730,000 homes remain without power.

Helene is not the only natural disaster affecting the U.S. this year. Extreme weather events have become more frequent, with major storms causing over $25 billion in damage nationwide. Climate change has increased global floods by 20% since 2000 and intensified hurricanes while increasing burned acreage due to wildfires by 320% since 1996.

The constant threat of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes has raised home insurance premiums and led some homeowners in vulnerable areas like Florida to forgo insurance altogether. Each region faces specific risks: wildfires threaten the West while floods are common in the Southeast.

Extreme heat affects properties across the South but is spreading elsewhere too. A Realtor.com climate risk study identified Austin, TX; Baton Rouge, LA; and Coral Gables, FL as cities where extreme heat causes significant damage.

Homeowners affected by Helene will likely spend months recovering from the storm. Many may find their insurance policies insufficient for necessary repairs and rebuilding efforts.

For those outside Helene's path, concerns persist about hurricane safety as areas previously considered low-risk were devastated by this storm.

Realtor.com economist Jiayi Xu notes that "hurricanes present substantial challenges for homeowners," impacting recovery efforts significantly. Xu suggests choosing properties in states with lower hurricane risks can alleviate these concerns.

Realtor.com now offers environmental risk scores for properties assessing hazards like hurricanes and floods to help prospective homeowners evaluate climate-related risks before deciding on a location.

Some states face less risk exposure to natural disasters than others. Realtor.com ranked states based on homes' vulnerability to hurricanes, floods or fires using First Street Foundation’s wind factor scores among other criteria:

- Nevada: Share of homes at lowest risk - 90.6%, total property values - $440.4 billion

- Nebraska: Share of homes at lowest risk - 90.2%, total property values - $159 billion

- Colorado: Share of homes at lowest risk - 89.5%, total property values - $1,062.6 billion

- Kansas: Share of homes at lowest risk - 88.8%, total property values - $209.3 billion

- Minnesota: Share of homes at lowest risk - 88.5%, total property values - $588.5 billion

- Iowa: Share of homes at lowest risk - 88.4%, total property values - $244.9 billion

- Washington: Share of homes at lowest risk - 88.2%, total property values - $1,299.5 billion

- Ohio: Share of homes at lowest risk - 87.6%, total property values - $890.9 billion

- South Dakota: Share of homes at lowest risk - 87.4%, total property values - $68 billion

- Missouri: Share of homes at lowest risk - 87%, total property values – $483.2 billion