Map Shows Where Natural Disasters Threaten US Homeowners
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Homeowners in Louisiana are expected to face the highest financial losses from severe weather and natural hazards in the entire nation in an average year, according to a new study by Insurify, at an estimated annual loss of $547 per person.
That is over $100 more than the projected annual cost faced by the second-most at-risk homeowners in the country, Floridians, who are expected to shoulder a yearly loss of $416 in 2025.
It is a grim prospect for the two states navigating a hurricane season that forecasters say is very likely to be above average, potentially delivering 13-19 storms, six to 10 hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes.
Where Homeowners Stand to Lose the Most
Louisiana is the state where homeowners stand to lose the most from natural disasters, based on financial losses per capita. The state, which faces threats of flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes, has expected annual losses of $2.5 billion each year, according to Insurify's analysis, which translates to $547 per resident—the highest rate in the country.
The state has been hit by eight hurricanes, the most financially costly type of natural disaster, since the beginning of 2020, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Hurricanes account for $1.4 billion of the state's expected annual losses in an average year, according to Insurify, followed by river flooding, at $691 million. That includes approximately $99 million in expected losses from river flooding in Lafayette County alone.
Louisiana was followed in the list of the top 10 states with the highest annual cost of natural disasters per person by Florida ($413), South Carolina ($413), South Dakota ($389), California ($385), North Dakota ($356), Oregon ($337), Mississippi ($325), Texas ($277) and Washington ($277).
Florida faces a 35 percent chance of being hit by a major hurricane this year, according to Insurify, which means that homeowners should brace themselves for storm wind-related damage and flooding, which is not included in the standard home insurance policy.
South Carolina, the state where homeowners face the third-highest financial losses from extreme weather in the country, is also vulnerable to hurricanes. Last September, Hurricane Helene caused a total of $1.2 billion in insured losses in South Carolina, making the storm the costliest weather-related disaster in the state since Hugo hit in 1989, according to the South Carolina State Climatology Office.
When examining total financial losses, the list of the top 10 states with the highest annual expenses differs slightly. California tops the list with a projected total yearly loss of over $15 billion, followed by Florida and Texas, with losses exceeding $8 billion each, Louisiana with $2.5 billion, and North Carolina with $2.3 billion.
The Threat Of Rising Premiums
The report's findings also indicate that homeowners in Louisiana and Florida, who have faced a significant surge in home insurance premiums over the past few years, may experience new hikes and increased instability in the aftermath of potentially devastating extreme weather events.
The two hurricane-prone states already have the highest home insurance premiums in the country, according to Insurify, with Florida homeowners paying an average of $14,140 per year and Louisiana homeowners paying an average of $10,964 per year.
"Extreme weather is the main factor driving up home insurance costs," said Mallory Mooney, director of sales and service at Insurify, in the report. "That includes both recurring weather events like hail or high winds, and individual disasters like hurricanes or wildfires."
"Past years show that a particularly damaging hurricane season can lead to higher premiums," Julia Taliesin of Insurify told Newsweek.
The company projects that typical home insurance costs will rise by approximately 8 percent this year, with larger increases in hurricane-prone states such as Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.
"Tariffs could also increase costs to rebuild a home, which would raise insurance costs," Talieson said.
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