Severe weather can hit at any moment. From tornadoes to hurricanes, ice storms, wildfires and flooding, severe weather can cause significant property damage, power outages 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.
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.
FEMA Disaster Declarations
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 millions 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 from 2012 to 2022 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.
Each U.S. State’s Most Common Severe Weather
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.
How Americans Experience Severe Weather
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.
Insurance Context in Relation to Severe Weather
Extreme weather is not only a risk to human life and property but also an indirect stressor to the insurance sector. Here are crucial aspects on how extreme weather has an impact on an insurance coverage
Increasing Cost of Insurance Policies:
With the rise in the number of extreme weather occurrences and their intensity, the risks involved have increased and hence insurance of homes and businesses is forcing companies to raise their rates. As a result, insurance costs have escalated for people living in such regions.
For example, in states like Florida and California which experience hurricanes and wildfires, homeowners in these regions have had to incur extreme costs with their insurance premiums increasing threefold If not doubled.
Insurance Retreats:
A huge number of high risk underwriters are now exiting the market completely. Insurers like Allstate and State Farm have opted out of regions most prone to catastrophic climatic conditions and hence are not issuing renewals of their policies.
This exit means that the choices available to the insured are limited and many of them have to purchase their policies from new and less desirable insurers but at very high rates.
Coverage Gaps
Most Homeowners have limited knowledge about their coverage of the insurance they possess. Basic structure of a home does not cater for the damage that might occur due to flooding and to get insurance for such damages, they have to enroll into programs like the National Flood Insurance Program. As climate change and severe weather events increase, many homeowners find themselves underinsured when disaster strikes.
State-backed Insurance Solutions:
In cases of extreme weather events, various states have designed these programs called “Last Resort Insurers”. These are meant to issue policies for buildings which private insurance companies consider highly prone to risks. But such plans may have certain restrictions and may not cover all damage possible
Mitigation Measures:
Insurers are beginning to encourage the owners of the houses to reduce the severe weather risk beforehand. This could be done by reinforcing the houses from strong hurricanes or planting fire resistant plants in areas prone to wildfire. Homeowners who implement these measures may be eligible for a reduction in their premiums.
Preparedness and Insurance Coverage
Given the unpredictability of severe weather, it is essential for homeowners to be prepared:
Review Insurance Policies:
As necessary, homeowners should review their insured policies covering the specific regulations and possible risks to their areas. Like understanding exclusions on floods or earthquakes.
Emergency Preparedness Plans:
To create a thorough emergency plan for the family is a big ticking step. This should cover an emergency kit and an alternative mode of family communication during tough weather.
Stay Informed:
House owners ought to keep track of the weather updates and watches in their areas. A number of them now get emergency alerts on their mobile gadgets and thus they can take appropriate action at the time when severe weather approaches.
How Prepared Are Americans for 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.
Another way people prepare for storms is by staying up to date, as 86% have received an emergency alert on their phone about severe weather. Other ways include watching the weather, protecting your home and property, and watching the news.
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.
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