How prepared is your county for severe weather?

In 2023, the United States was hit by 28 separate climate events, resulting in more than $1 billion of damages to homes, businesses, and local communities, collectively costing more than $90 billion. These extreme weather patterns are only expected to get worse as climate change intensifies across the globe, with a resulting increase in property damage.

Property is not the only thing at risk here. Over the last 10 years, climate disasters have caused nearly 6,000 deaths across the country.

Yet, according to new data from insurance support company ClaimGuide, 61 percent of Americans do not have an emergency plan for severe weather events.

According to the report, each type of natural disaster has a different price tag: "Hurricanes are the costliest weather events in the U.S., totalling $689.4 billion in damages from 2014 to 2024," ClaimGuide said. "Severe storms have cost less than half that, with $256.1 billion in damages since 2014, and wildfires have cost $106 billion since 2014."

When it comes to cost, Texas and Florida have seen the most damage, with both states experiencing more than $200 billion in damages since 2014. California and Louisiana follow closely behind, spending between $100 and $200 billion on climate disasters over the last decade.

By analyzing data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ClaimGuide ranked counties across the U.S. from most to least prepared for natural disasters based on three key metrics:

  • Community resilience: The ability of a community to anticipate hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and recover rapidly.
  • Social vulnerability: Poverty, crowding, and vehicle access can all affect resilience to natural disasters.
  • Disaster risk: An area's inherent likelihood of experiencing natural disasters.

1. Los Angeles County, California

According to FEMA, Los Angeles has one of the lowest community resilience scores across the U.S. California is also inherently more at risk of natural disasters. According to the analysis, LA County is expected to lose nearly $4 billion, the highest of any county in the country.

2. Harris County, Texas

Houston and Harris County are exposed to a "flip flop" of climate conditions, from extreme floods to droughts, placing the city as one of the riskiest places for climate disasters in the country. Houston's community resilience score is even lower than Los Angeles's, and the city's vulnerability score is also very high. Thus, the county's expected annual loss to weather and natural disasters is $2.2 billion.

3. Riverside County, California

Riverside is highly susceptible to flash floods and mudslides while housing a highly vulnerable population to extreme weather events. The country also has a relatively low community resilience, overall facing an annual expected loss of roughly $1.2 billion.

4. San Bernardino County, California

Despite its relatively high community resilience score, San Bernardino County faces threats from heat, fires and floods, racking up an expected annual loss of $1.1 billion.

5. Alameda County, California

Alameda County residents sit on one of the most dangerous fault lines in the U.S., the Hayward Fault, which is why the county carries a high inherent disaster risk score. Alameda ranks relatively high in terms of community resilience, but its population also ranks fairly high in terms of social vulnerability. Overall, the county is expected to lose $1.2 billion to weather and natural disasters.

So, how does your county compare?

While California features particularly high on this list, more than 25 percent of Americans have experienced some form of severe weather event over the last five years, according to a survey carried out by ClaimGuide as part of their report. Thus, climate preparedness is essential even if you don't live in the most at-risk areas.

"Understanding potential hazards and exposures to your area and home allows you to address any concerns in advance," ClaimGuide insurance specialist Gerard Reczek said in a statement. "Boarding windows and doors to protect against strong winds, using sandbags and other water diversion tactics to protect against rising waters and floods, and removing large trees close to your home can be very effective preventive tactics in minimizing potential loss."

In the event of home damages, Reczek said it is also essential to take action to protect your property from further damage.

"Taking responsible action and protecting against additional damage after a loss is always recommended," he said. "Removing water, water damage material, bringing in fans and dehumidifiers promptly is a responsible action to protect against mold that can result after water damage."

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.