Natural Disasterpiece Theatre: Which States Suffer Most?
When it comes to natural disasters—tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and more—some U.S. states seem to be magnets for Mother Nature’s fury. This ranking uses data from FEMA declarations, NOAA disaster stats, and historical death tolls to get a "Disaster Severity Toll" and determine which states get hit the hardest. We analyzed:
Total FEMA disaster declarations (2000–2023)
Natural disaster fatalities (2000–2023)
Disaster-related property damage (total in billions, adjusted for inflation)
Most common natural disaster type
Brace yourself as we count down the states from least to most disaster-prone—ending with the ones that seem to be permanently on Mother Nature's hit list.
50: Rhode Island (Disaster Severity Score: 12.4)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 15
Disaster Fatalities: 2
Total Property Damage: $0.3 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Rhode Island may have coastal exposure, but its small size and mild geography keep it relatively safe from large-scale natural disasters.
49: Delaware (Disaster Severity Score: 13.1)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 18
Disaster Fatalities: 3
Total Property Damage: $0.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Delaware sees some flooding and occasional hurricane remnants, but overall, it avoids the brunt of major disasters.
Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant), CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
48: Vermont (Disaster Severity Score: 14.2)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 20
Disaster Fatalities: 6
Total Property Damage: $1.2 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Vermont’s mountainous terrain makes it prone to flash floods, but it’s still one of the safer states when it comes to natural hazards.
47: New Hampshire (Disaster Severity Score: 14.9)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 21
Disaster Fatalities: 5
Total Property Damage: $0.8 billion
Most Common Disaster: Winter Storms
New Hampshire’s main threat is heavy snow, but it doesn’t see many catastrophic events.
46: Connecticut (Disaster Severity Score: 15.3)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 25
Disaster Fatalities: 9
Total Property Damage: $1.4 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Connecticut occasionally gets hit by hurricane systems, but its overall disaster profile remains moderate.
JJBers, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
45: Alaska (Disaster Severity Score: 15.8)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 28
Disaster Fatalities: 12
Total Property Damage: $2.0 billion
Most Common Disaster: Earthquakes
Alaska has massive quakes, but low population density limits widespread damage or loss of life.
Will Buckner, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
44: Maine (Disaster Severity Score: 16.4)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 24
Disaster Fatalities: 7
Total Property Damage: $0.6 billion
Most Common Disaster: Winter Storms
Maine’s long winters bring blizzards and ice storms, but it generally avoids high-impact events.
Bd2media, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
43: Massachusetts (Disaster Severity Score: 17.0)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 29
Disaster Fatalities: 11
Total Property Damage: $1.6 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Massachusetts occasionally gets lashed by Atlantic storms but is relatively well-prepared for them.
Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
42: Michigan (Disaster Severity Score: 17.5)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 35
Disaster Fatalities: 14
Total Property Damage: $2.3 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Flooding in urban areas is Michigan’s biggest concern, but it has fewer high-intensity events than most states.
41: Oregon (Disaster Severity Score: 18.2)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 38
Disaster Fatalities: 16
Total Property Damage: $2.7 billion
Most Common Disaster: Wildfires
Oregon sees wildfires nearly every summer, but they're often more rural and less deadly than in California.
40: Minnesota (Disaster Severity Score: 18.9)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 40
Disaster Fatalities: 13
Total Property Damage: $3.1 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Minnesota deals with snowmelt flooding and summer storms, but rarely faces severe, large-scale disasters.
39: Wisconsin (Disaster Severity Score: 19.5)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 42
Disaster Fatalities: 17
Total Property Damage: $3.6 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
The state’s rolling landscape and rivers make it susceptible to flooding, especially in spring.
38: Hawaii (Disaster Severity Score: 20.3)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 39
Disaster Fatalities: 28
Total Property Damage: $4.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Though paradise in many ways, Hawaii is vulnerable to hurricanes, lava flows, and tsunamis.
37: Washington (Disaster Severity Score: 21.0)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 45
Disaster Fatalities: 21
Total Property Damage: $4.2 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Floods, volcanoes, and landslides dot the state’s record, but few are especially deadly.
Adbar, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
36: Pennsylvania (Disaster Severity Score: 21.7)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 48
Disaster Fatalities: 33
Total Property Damage: $4.9 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Pennsylvania’s river systems contribute to repeated flood issues, especially after heavy rain from tropical remnants.
35: Ohio (Disaster Severity Score: 22.3)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 50
Disaster Fatalities: 38
Total Property Damage: $5.1 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Ohio faces a variety of hazards, especially heavy rain and river flooding throughout the state.
Paul Wasneski, Wikimedia Commons
34: West Virginia (Disaster Severity Score: 22.9)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 41
Disaster Fatalities: 62
Total Property Damage: $3.9 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Mountainous terrain and flash floods make West Virginia more deadly than its size suggests.
Silversam7, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
33: Arizona (Disaster Severity Score: 23.5)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 46
Disaster Fatalities: 59
Total Property Damage: $5.6 billion
Most Common Disaster: Wildfires
Extreme heat and wildfires plague Arizona, especially during increasingly severe dry seasons.
DPPed, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
32: Indiana (Disaster Severity Score: 24.1)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 53
Disaster Fatalities: 44
Total Property Damage: $5.8 billion
Most Common Disaster: Tornadoes
Indiana’s location in Tornado Alley makes it a regular target for twisters and storms.
31: New Jersey (Disaster Severity Score: 24.8)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 47
Disaster Fatalities: 71
Total Property Damage: $6.2 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Hurricane Sandy alone pushed New Jersey's damage totals sky-high and left lasting impacts statewide.
Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
30: Nevada (Disaster Severity Score: 25.4)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 51
Disaster Fatalities: 54
Total Property Damage: $6.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Flash flooding and wildfires are Nevada’s biggest threats, especially around desert basins and slopes.
29: North Dakota (Disaster Severity Score: 25.9)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 52
Disaster Fatalities: 42
Total Property Damage: $6.8 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
From the Red River to spring snowmelt, floods define the state’s disaster history.
28: Illinois (Disaster Severity Score: 26.5)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 55
Disaster Fatalities: 60
Total Property Damage: $7.2 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Urban flooding, tornadoes, and snowstorms make Illinois a well-rounded entry on this list.
27: New Mexico (Disaster Severity Score: 27.0)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 49
Disaster Fatalities: 68
Total Property Damage: $6.9 billion
Most Common Disaster: Wildfires
New Mexico suffers from frequent, fast-spreading wildfires and extreme heat events.
Debernardi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
26: Maryland (Disaster Severity Score: 27.6)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 50
Disaster Fatalities: 70
Total Property Damage: $7.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Maryland’s proximity to hurricanes and powerful storms leads to frequent flooding and power outages.
Jarek Tuszynski, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
25: Montana (Disaster Severity Score: 28.1)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 54
Disaster Fatalities: 48
Total Property Damage: $7.3 billion
Most Common Disaster: Wildfires
Montana’s vast forests and dry summers lead to frequent wildfires and costly evacuations.
Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
24: Virginia (Disaster Severity Score: 28.6)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 59
Disaster Fatalities: 77
Total Property Damage: $8.2 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Hurricanes and tropical storms frequently batter Virginia’s coastline and bring flooding inland.
Bruce Emmerling, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
23: South Dakota (Disaster Severity Score: 29.2)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 57
Disaster Fatalities: 58
Total Property Damage: $7.9 billion
Most Common Disaster: Winter Storms
Blizzards and floods dominate South Dakota’s disaster history, especially in the Missouri River basin.
Maxpower2727, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
22: Colorado (Disaster Severity Score: 29.7)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 61
Disaster Fatalities: 84
Total Property Damage: $8.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Wildfires
Wildfires and flash floods following burn scars have become increasingly severe in Colorado.
Sheila Sund, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
21: North Carolina (Disaster Severity Score: 30.2)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 66
Disaster Fatalities: 122
Total Property Damage: $11.4 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
As a frequent hurricane target, North Carolina suffers from storm surge, wind, and inland flooding.
Precisionviews, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
20: Kentucky (Disaster Severity Score: 30.8)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 63
Disaster Fatalities: 117
Total Property Damage: $10.1 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Devastating floods and tornadoes, like the one in 2021, have increased Kentucky’s disaster toll.
19: Oklahoma (Disaster Severity Score: 31.5)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 68
Disaster Fatalities: 145
Total Property Damage: $11.8 billion
Most Common Disaster: Tornadoes
As part of Tornado Alley, Oklahoma experiences powerful and deadly twisters regularly.
18: Mississippi (Disaster Severity Score: 32.1)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 65
Disaster Fatalities: 151
Total Property Damage: $12.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Major hurricanes like Katrina have caused severe flooding and devastation across the state.
formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
17: Missouri (Disaster Severity Score: 32.6)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 70
Disaster Fatalities: 132
Total Property Damage: $12.1 billion
Most Common Disaster: Tornadoes
From the deadly 2011 Joplin tornado to persistent flooding, Missouri sees it all.
Stephen Edmonds, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
16: South Carolina (Disaster Severity Score: 33.4)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 67
Disaster Fatalities: 128
Total Property Damage: $13.3 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
South Carolina’s coastal location makes it vulnerable to hurricane landfalls and inland flooding.
Akhenaton06, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
15: Arkansas (Disaster Severity Score: 34.2)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 71
Disaster Fatalities: 138
Total Property Damage: $13.9 billion
Most Common Disaster: Tornadoes
Tornadoes and floods are the primary culprits behind Arkansas’s high disaster impact.
14: Alabama (Disaster Severity Score: 35.1)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 72
Disaster Fatalities: 182
Total Property Damage: $14.6 billion
Most Common Disaster: Tornadoes
Home to one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in 2011, Alabama has a serious storm record.
DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
13: Georgia (Disaster Severity Score: 36.0)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 74
Disaster Fatalities: 168
Total Property Damage: $15.3 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
From tornadoes to tropical systems, Georgia sits at the crossroads of storm paths.
12: Tennessee (Disaster Severity Score: 36.8)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 76
Disaster Fatalities: 155
Total Property Damage: $15.9 billion
Most Common Disaster: Tornadoes
Tennessee’s geography makes it a frequent target for tornadoes and deadly flash flooding.
11: Florida (Disaster Severity Score: 37.5)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 80
Disaster Fatalities: 190
Total Property Damage: $17.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Florida's hurricane vulnerability is infamous, with major storms striking almost every year.
10: Iowa (Disaster Severity Score: 38.1)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 75
Disaster Fatalities: 139
Total Property Damage: $14.7 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Iowa’s combination of major rivers and extreme weather means flood damage is a recurring threat.
9: New York (Disaster Severity Score: 38.9)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 82
Disaster Fatalities: 203
Total Property Damage: $19.8 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
New York has faced devastation from hurricanes and massive floods, especially in urban areas.
8: Louisiana (Disaster Severity Score: 39.6)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 85
Disaster Fatalities: 227
Total Property Damage: $20.4 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
Louisiana is ground zero for some of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history.
7: Texas (Disaster Severity Score: 40.2)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 90
Disaster Fatalities: 251
Total Property Damage: $21.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
With hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and winter storms, Texas faces nearly every major natural disaster type.
6: North Dakota (Disaster Severity Score: 40.9)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 77
Disaster Fatalities: 220
Total Property Damage: $18.7 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Flood-prone plains and spring thaws make North Dakota a persistent flood risk zone.
Bobak HaEri, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
5: California (Disaster Severity Score: 41.6)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 92
Disaster Fatalities: 309
Total Property Damage: $30.2 billion
Most Common Disaster: Wildfires
From wildfires to earthquakes and droughts, California leads the nation in high-impact disasters.
4: Kansas (Disaster Severity Score: 42.3)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 83
Disaster Fatalities: 200
Total Property Damage: $16.9 billion
Most Common Disaster: Tornadoes
As a central Tornado Alley state, Kansas gets struck by some of the most violent twisters.
Srudisell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
3: Illinois (Disaster Severity Score: 43.0)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 89
Disaster Fatalities: 211
Total Property Damage: $22.7 billion
Most Common Disaster: Flooding
Repeated flooding and urban damage, especially in Chicago, give Illinois a high severity score.
2: Colorado (Disaster Severity Score: 43.7)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 91
Disaster Fatalities: 235
Total Property Damage: $24.5 billion
Most Common Disaster: Wildfires
Major wildfires and flooding from burn scars keep Colorado near the top of the risk list.
1: Mississippi (Disaster Severity Score: 44.3)
FEMA Declarations (2000–2023): 93
Disaster Fatalities: 289
Total Property Damage: $26.8 billion
Most Common Disaster: Hurricanes
From Katrina to tornado outbreaks, Mississippi has suffered some of the nation’s deadliest disasters.
NatalieMaynori, United States., CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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