The Most Hurricane-Vulnerable City in the United States

The United States is in the midst of hurricane season, a period that begins on June 1 and stretches through November 30. The Gulf Coast was recently devastated by Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm to make landfall on the mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2012 and one of the strongest to ever hit Florida and Georgia. And it's not over yet. Hurricane Milton, a Cat 5, is headed straight for the same area and according to Fema, it will be catastrophic.

For those in hurricane-vulnerable areas, particularly along the coast, these threats are nothing new. The FEMA Hurricane Risk Rating is "very high" in the coastal cities of Florida and throughout the south and east coasts. With natural hazards, there is an expected annual loss. Not only are buildings affected, but so are agriculture, and the people, whether they live in the area, do business in the area, or both.

To determine the most hurricane-vulnerable cities in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on natural hazard risk for U.S. census tracts from the March 2023 FEMA National Risk Index dataset. Cities were ranked based on the average hurricane risk index score for all census tracts within their borders.

Data were aggregated from the census tract level to the city level using spatial boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER/Line program. Supplemental data on the total value of all owner-occupied homes and populations are from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Only places with at least 25,000 residents were considered. (Check out how extreme weather led to historic moments.)

50. Miramar, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 96.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $12.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -0.9%
Total population: 135,158

49. Doral, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 96.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $5.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +33.1%
Total population: 74,891

48. Pompano Beach, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 96.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $9.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.0%
Total population: 111,790

47. Oakland Park, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 96.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -0.1%
Total population: 44,056

46. Sunrise, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 96.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $7.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.6%
Total population: 96,510

45. Immokalee, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 96.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $0.6 million
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +8.0%
Total population: 27,753

44. Titusville, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +8.0%
Total population: 48,595

43. Greenacres, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +9.6%
Total population: 43,651

42. Lake Worth Beach, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: NA
Total population: 42,188

41. Weston, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $10.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.5%
Total population: 68,029

40. Dania Beach, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +0.6%
Total population: 31,700

39. Lakewood Ranch, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $7.3 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: NA
Total population: 34,346

38. Conway, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +16.7%
Total population: 25,121

37. Ferry Pass, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -3.2%
Total population: 32,447

36. East Lake-Orient Park, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.1 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +8.4%
Total population: 29,243

35. Coral Springs, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $12.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +2.8%
Total population: 133,801

34. Palm Bay, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $8.1 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.7%
Total population: 121,513

33. Land O' Lakes, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +13.5%
Total population: 40,843

32. Riviera Beach, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +10.5%
Total population: 37,668

31. Charleston, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $21.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +14.3%
Total population: 149,960

30. Boca Raton, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $25.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.3%
Total population: 97,980

29. Myrtle Beach, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +17.2%
Total population: 36,064

28. Davie, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.6/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $12.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.2%
Total population: 105,821

27. Royal Palm Beach, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $3.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.2%
Total population: 38,874

26. North Charleston, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +7.0%
Total population: 115,755

25. Palm City, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.8%
Total population: 25,957

24. Wright, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.5%
Total population: 26,272

23. Sebastian, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 97.9/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.6%
Total population: 25,266

22. Deerfield Beach, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +8.8%
Total population: 86,455

21. Wellington, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $9.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.3%
Total population: 61,373

20. Vero Beach South, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +24.7%
Total population: 29,965

19. Rockledge, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +4.9%
Total population: 27,808

18. Port St. Lucie, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $19.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +17.8%
Total population: 210,520

17. West Melbourne, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +28.9%
Total population: 26,762

16. Houma, LA

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.0%
Total population: 33,094

15. Melbourne, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $6.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +6.7%
Total population: 84,982

14. Crestview, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +18.4%
Total population: 27,427

13. Daphne, AL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.6 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.9%
Total population: 27,861

12. Summerville, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.5%
Total population: 50,839

11. Jacksonville, NC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.4/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.5 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -2.4%
Total population: 71,908

10. Panama City, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.6/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.2 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -6.6%
Total population: 34,254

9. Wilmington, NC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.7/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $9.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +1.5%
Total population: 116,933

8. Mount Pleasant, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 98.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $19.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +12.7%
Total population: 90,945

7. Hinesville, GA

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.0/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.0 million
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.6%
Total population: 34,732

6. Key West, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.1/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.8 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +3.0%
Total population: 26,078

5. Fort Pierce, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.2/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $1.9 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +6.6%
Total population: 47,153

4. Hilton Head Island, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $10.4 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: -4.9%
Total population: 37,708

3. New Bern, NC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.3/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $2.0 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +5.8%
Total population: 31,373

2. Bluffton, SC

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.5/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $4.7 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +71.1%
Total population: 29,375

1. Parkland, FL

FEMA hurricane risk index score: 99.8/100
Total value of owner-occupied homes: $8.1 billion
Population change, 2017 to 2022: +20.5%
Total population: 34,832