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Severe weather can hit at any moment. From tornadoes to hurricanes, ice storms, drought, earthquakes, wildfires and flooding, severe weather can cause significant property damage, power outage and even be life-threatening.
At Insuranks, we want to make sure you are well educated and have the right coverage when things go wrong. It’s important to know what your home insurance does and doesn’t cover in case a severe storm or other weather condition causes damage.
That’s why we wanted to find out which states have the most and least severe weather. We analyzed hundreds of weather-related Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declarations to locate severe weather hot spots and the most common type of severe weather in each state. We also asked Americans about their severe weather experiences to better understand how people prepare for storms. Read on to find out the states with the best and worst weather!
All emergency and major disaster declarations are made solely at the discretion of the President of the United States. Over the years, the U.S. government has provided billions in funding to help communities recover from major weather events.
There are two types of disaster declarations, including Emergency Declarations and Major Disaster Declarations. We analyzed data from FEMA over a decade and identified weather-related Major Disaster Declarations and Emergency Declarations for each state. Over a decade, 661 weather-related disaster declarations were made across all 50 states.
Louisiana had the most with 30 declarations. Tropical storms were the most common type of severe weather in the Bayou State with 10 declarations listed as tropical storms. Florida came in second with 29 weather-related disaster declarations, with 21 of the Sunshine State’s disasters relating to hurricanes.
California came in third with 28 weather-related disaster declarations, with the most common concern being fire. Additionally, 9 states including Mississippi, Alabama, and New York had 20 or more weather-related disaster declarations.
While some states have multiple disaster declarations every year, others go years without one. Indiana, Nevada, and Wyoming tied for the least amount of weather-related disaster declarations at 3 a piece. 18 states had less than 10 weather-related disaster declarations.
The type of severe weather you experience depends on where you live. According to our analysis, the most common element of severe weather was severe storms. Severe storms were listed in 154 disaster declarations and were the most common type of severe weather element in 16 states including Alaska, Missouri, Utah, and Vermont.
Flooding was also a major problem across the U.S. with 150 disaster declarations. Flooding was the most common weather element in 18 states including Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Hurricanes were the third most common with 66 disaster declarations. It may be no surprise hurricanes were the biggest threat in 9 states including Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina.
There is some severe weather that seems unique to certain states. Fire was the most common in California and Colorado, while declarations related to severe winter storms were most common in Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and New York.
1 in 3 Americans have lived through a FEMA weather-related disaster. And while each state experiences different kinds of severe weather, Americans aren’t always prepared. 86% said they have been caught off guard by severe weather. In fact, nearly half of Americans have suffered some sort of property damage due to storms.
Severe weather can be life-threatening and downright scary. According to our survey, the worst type of severe weather is tornadoes, followed by hurricanes and wildfires. 83% reported feeling scared by severe weather, while more than half said they have experienced life-threatening severe weather.
Severe weather can vary greatly depending on where you live. That could be why 1 in 6 have considered moving due to severe weather in their area.
While it’s hard to predict when severe weather will strike, there are ways to be prepared. 60% of Americans say they are prepared for severe weather. More than 2 in 3 (69%) baby boomers said they felt ready for severe weather, compared to 53% of Gen Z.
More than half of Americans (54%) have an emergency kit. According to FEMA kits should include things like food, water, and other supplies like cash, batteries, and chargers to last you for several days if needed. Americans say the best way to prepare for severe weather is to have an emergency plan and to have an emergency kit.
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Another way people prepare for storms is by staying up to date, as 86% have received emergency alerts on their phone about severe weather. Other ways include watching the weather, protecting your home and property, and watching the news.
The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events across the U.S. are having a direct effect on insurance coverage and premiums.
Homeowners in high-risk states are seeing major insurance rate hikes. In Texas, for example, premiums have increased by over 40% due to escalating claims from hail, hurricanes, and wildfires. The Midwest has also seen significant rate jumps driven by storm-related damage.
In high-exposure states like California and Florida, major insurers have begun to withdraw coverage or restrict new policies. State Farm in California, for example, now requires costly home upgrades to renew existing policies. In Florida, several insurers have pulled out of certain markets entirely, leaving many homeowners with limited and more expensive options.
Many homeowners remain underinsured for specific disasters. Standard home insurance policies often exclude flood damage, which leaves millions exposed during hurricanes or extreme rainfall.
Taking these steps can reduce your financial risk as severe weather becomes more common and destructive. Be sure to keep your relevant insurance policies up to date as it can be crucial when a major weather event happens.
Methodology
In June 2023, we analyzed 661 weather-related FEMA disaster declarations (major disaster and emergency declarations) between January 2012 to December 2022 to identify the most common element of severe weather for each U.S. state during this time.
We surveyed 1,002 Americans about their experiences with severe weather and how they prepare for it. Respondents were 49% male, 49% female, 1% non-binary and 1% would rather not say. Respondents ranged in age from 19 to 76 with an average age of 42 years old.
For media inquiries, please contact media@insuranks.com.
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10 / 10
Awesome AIG thank you!
2 / 10
Allianz employs Drainage Home Emergency personnel who are poorly informed and trained. Furthermore these "engineers" do not use technology to diagnose the cause and only prepared to use primitive approaches to unblocking drains with power hoses. They communication is deceptive and poor. They even inflict reputational damage on the insured when their knowledge base is short. And Allianz is happy to act on such smearing without seeking 2nd opinions. Allianz did not keep its assurance of up... Read More
2 / 10
Allianz Home Insurance - Abysmal Service - Buyer Beware Made a claim for our bathroom ceiling that caved in during thunderstorms in Jan 2024 6 weeks later and after a parade of tradespersons through our property, we have been denied The excuse they have given is that the roof tiles in this section of the roof are not placed correctly Our roof was restored a few years ago and we have no large trees or shrubs that cause any damage to the roof How can a 5 bedroom house fully tiled,... Read More
10 / 10
Geico homeowners insurance is great in our experience. never had any issues, and whenever we needed them they were there very promptly.
8.9 / 10
GEICO homeowners insurance was very professional and fair. Never had any issues with this company and whatever I needed help with was solved very fast.
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance is a very good product! You don't pay above your own needs. Their customer service is so accommodating, warm, friendly and helpful. Warmly recommended!
10 / 10
The value for money with Liberty Mutual is simply awesome. The coverage is very comprehensive and based on your needs and the customer service is very good as well.
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance delivers an outstanding online experience. Fast and easy handling of issues!
10 / 10
Excellent homeowners insurance rates and perfect customer service!!
10 / 10
Love Liberty Mutual, their customer service representatives are just lovely to deal with!
2 / 10
I wish I had never signed up with this company . My car was destroyed in a terrible storm . They cheated me out of $2500 on the value of it . Then they denied a home claim even though I had two expert opinions stating the cause of the damage. And best of all , you get adjusters in a foreign country who are impoossibl3e to understand and who RARELY bother to communicate with you . Horrible experience.
2 / 10
I purchased a “deluxe” homeowners policy from Liberty Mutual. Nowhere in the policy does it mention whether or not underground water lines are covered or not, snd they do not advertise the “waiver” I could have gotten so that those lines would be covered. The first I heard about this waiver was when the representative told me I wasn’t covered because I didn’t have it. And they advise “customized” home insurance. Pure B.S.
10 / 10
I had an excellent experience all around my customer lifecycle with Lemonade. Super easy to get information through their app, application process is smooth - seamless experience! Refunds and claim payments are done super fast! Lemonade is transforming the way insurance companies take care of their clients. Highly recommended!
10 / 10
A revolutionary insurance company delivering a revolutionary insurance experience! WOW!
10 / 10
Best renters insurance rates I found, best customer experience as well!
10 / 10
I was thinking of something not positive to write about Lemonade insurance company, but just couldn't find one. Pleased with their service in every possible aspect. Had a damaged roof, they paid it fast and supported and instructed me all along. If I could only have them in the past 25 years as a homeowner that I spent on a different company that wasn't as great. If you're reading this, change your homeowners insurance company to Lemonade now! Great choice!
9.9 / 10
I signed with Lemonade a few months ago and recently had to file my first claim ever with them. My claim was completed and a few things in the process were excellent. Because I was in a non-English speaking country, where communication would have been difficult, they didn’t make me file a police report, which was great. However, they did have some very critical technical failures in processing my claim. For whatever reason they could not receive my emails, and so I had to send them... Read More
Brian Rupert Insuranker
Policy Type: Home Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
I had a wind and hail claim and called the claims department. They transferred me to a claims subcontractor who kept giving me runaround. They kept telling me the hail damage was not widespread enough to justify payment over what my deductible was. But the roofer told me it was and provided pictures as proof. I don't think this is a legitimate insurance company. They just sub everything out. Everyone passes the buck. No accountability in anyone to do a job. I dropped them and reshopped for a... Read More
AliAjroucheddfxadfxd Ajrouche Insuranker
Policy Type: Home Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
I am so glad I will be moving to a different company today. All my family members had moved after we had a flood. They are the worst company ever. All the insurance companies in my area got their claim approved except the people that had Berkshire guard. They are the most nastiest disgusting insurance company. This is other than the customer service. They never call you back. Please do not get yourself into this company. I had a policy for flood and sweet backup. And I still got denied and had... Read More
Damon Hinson Insuranker
Policy Type: Home Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
I signed up with this company through an employer and the rates were fair, however it was convenient to sign up but lo and behold don’t ever have any problems with this company because if you do the claim time response and communication from this company is completely ridiculous. I’ve been driving over 30 years and I’ve never seen the insurance company this unprofessional and short on communication like this company. It’s been close to 90 days and they still haven’t paid out on my... Read More
10 / 10
Awesome AIG thank you!
0 / 10
Scammers alert! Wish I didn't sign up with them initially...
2 / 10
Allianz employs Drainage Home Emergency personnel who are poorly informed and trained. Furthermore these "engineers" do not use technology to diagnose the cause and only prepared to use primitive approaches to unblocking drains with power hoses. They communication is deceptive and poor. They even inflict reputational damage on the insured when their knowledge base is short. And Allianz is happy to act on such smearing without seeking 2nd opinions. Allianz did not keep its assurance of up... Read More
2 / 10
Allianz Home Insurance - Abysmal Service - Buyer Beware Made a claim for our bathroom ceiling that caved in during thunderstorms in Jan 2024 6 weeks later and after a parade of tradespersons through our property, we have been denied The excuse they have given is that the roof tiles in this section of the roof are not placed correctly Our roof was restored a few years ago and we have no large trees or shrubs that cause any damage to the roof How can a 5 bedroom house fully tiled,... Read More
0 / 10
Do not trust this company!!!! GEICO will scam your money and serve you no help or support whatsoever!!! BEWARE!!!!
10 / 10
Geico homeowners insurance is great in our experience. never had any issues, and whenever we needed them they were there very promptly.
8.9 / 10
GEICO homeowners insurance was very professional and fair. Never had any issues with this company and whatever I needed help with was solved very fast.
0 / 10
Worst company ever! Got our rooftop cleaned off snow, by a person who had Liberty Mutual insurance. An acquaintance saw that this person had a $1M policy, so we figured it was safe to use them for the job. Unfortunately, he ruined my garage door which destroyed the garage door opener when one of his workers rammed it. He promised to fix it fast but wouldn’t give me his insurance company name.. I was selling the house and now couldn’t use the garage, or move things in and out of it.... Read More
0 / 10
Horrible company! Go with Liberty Mutual if you want to be miserable and disappointed. Save yourself the trouble and go with any other company but them!!! Liberty Mutual is bad for business and for your wallet!!
0 / 10
I received my policy by Liberty Mutual sales agent. I got a phone call from a different agent saying that they need to come and take photos of my home, which I do not need to present for. Then I had a big delay but naturally I assumed that I am covered by their policy. Two months later, Liberty Mutual decided to cancel my policy but I only received the cancelation notice a month after. The reason for the cancelation stated "yard debris, peeling paint on the window sils and peeling paint... Read More
0 / 10
Very disappointed of Liberty Mutual! I was excited for my new policy with them, unfortunately my joy was quickly terminated by their horrible customer service!! They showed no interest in helping a new customer to set up their policy online and would answer my questions in a very unprofessional aor helpful way. I am going to stick to State Farm!
0 / 10
Liberty Mutual is a horrible company. Worst customer service in the world. I am a salesperson myself and the way they treat customers is just wrong. They get nothing done and take way too long to accomplish simple tasks. I do not recommend Liberty Mutual to anyone!
3.2 / 10
I am extremely upset with Liberty Mutual insurance. We have been with Liberty Mutual for a long time. Almost 25 with homeowners, umbrella and car insurance with this company. My wife hit a big rock in a hotel parking lot. The front bumper and sensors got damaged. her only accident in 25 years! We took the car to get an estimate for the damage and have been on an endless battle with Liberty Mutual agent and the repair shop they subcontract to get our car fixed, with no communication. It has... Read More
0 / 10
I switched to Liberty mutual a few months ago after got recommendations from a salesperson. Unfortunately, I have had a bad experience since the first moment I switched. My agent could not update my account successfully, my claims agent never returned any of my many phone calls, emails, or test messages for over two days… They have the worst customer service in the world. I have been using insurance for many long years and never came across such a horrible customer service. Do not... Read More
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance is a very good product! You don't pay above your own needs. Their customer service is so accommodating, warm, friendly and helpful. Warmly recommended!
10 / 10
The value for money with Liberty Mutual is simply awesome. The coverage is very comprehensive and based on your needs and the customer service is very good as well.
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance delivers an outstanding online experience. Fast and easy handling of issues!
10 / 10
Excellent homeowners insurance rates and perfect customer service!!
10 / 10
Love Liberty Mutual, their customer service representatives are just lovely to deal with!
2 / 10
I wish I had never signed up with this company . My car was destroyed in a terrible storm . They cheated me out of $2500 on the value of it . Then they denied a home claim even though I had two expert opinions stating the cause of the damage. And best of all , you get adjusters in a foreign country who are impoossibl3e to understand and who RARELY bother to communicate with you . Horrible experience.
Do you have U.S. insurance expertise/experience? Would you like to become a voice at Insuranks, help businesses and individuals, and showcase your authority online? Write us!
Not all those who wander are lost.
Disclosure: Insuranks.com is an independent educational comparison service and an advertising-supported publisher. Some of the companies/offers that appear on the website are from our partners which we may receive compensation from. This may influence which companies/offers we write about and where and how it appears on the site. However, this does not impact our assessments. We solely highlight companies, products, and offers that can help you make smarter insurance decisions.
