14 Cities With the Highest Risk of Storm Damage This Hurricane Season—How Can You Protect Your Property?

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Hurricane season has started, and forecasts are not looking good. According to analytics company CoreLogic, more than 32.7 million homes from Texas to Maine are at risk of hurricane damage this year.

The season is expected to be very busy and possibly top the record books for the number of storms named. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts there could be as many as 25 total storms, with eight to 13 becoming hurricanes.

Experts say the ocean is warming around the world. At the same time, the end of one of the strongest El Ninos ever observed could quickly transition to a La Nina, which generally causes more hurricanes over the Atlantic. The combination of warm weather and high winds could mean the perfect recipe for stronger storms this season. 

Metro Areas Most at Risk of Hurricane and Storm Surges

While it’s impossible to know exactly who will be impacted this hurricane season, some areas could be harder hit than others, while not all homes will experience a total loss. Some could be damaged by flooding and storm surges, and others by wind.

CoreLogic’s 2024 Hurricane Risk Report identified the areas most at risk of damage from hurricane winds and storm surges. Areas with high population density in low-lying coastal areas are most at risk. However, how much a property could be damaged depends on various factors, such as elevation changes and any barriers to block water from moving inland. 

Here’s a look at places with the most risk of damage from hurricane winds, as well as the reconstruction value from such phenomena.

Metro Area	Number of homes at moderate or greater risk to hurricane winds	Reconstruction value (in billions)
New York, New York	3,765,489	$1.961
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	1,657,757	$703.6
Houston, Texas	2,092,308	$671.3
Boston, Massachusetts	1,347,819	$669.5
Miami, Florida	2,048,827	$511.4
Tampa, Florida	1,107,320	$294.5
Providence, Rhode Island	483,033	$211.7
Virginia Beach, Virginia	583,928	$186.4
Jacksonville, Florida	580,352	$167.9
Richmond, Virginia	435,597	$153.6
Hartford, Connecticut	353,537	$150.3
Bridgeport, Connecticut	212,853	$135.8
New Orleans, Louisiana	442,099	$135.1
North Port, Florida	398,672	$107.7

Many of the metro areas with the most at-risk homes also tend to be in areas that are familiar with hurricane damage. Hurricane Sandy, for example, caused an estimated $19 billion in damages and lost economic activity across New York City in 2012. As the most densely populated city in the U.S., it’s not a surprise that it tops the list of the most homes at risk of damage from storm surges and hurricane winds.

Here’s a look at those places most likely to see coastal flooding, as well as the reconstruction value.

	Number of homes at moderate or greater risk to storm surge	Reconstruction value (in billions)
New York, New York	878,226	$415.4
Virginia Beach, Virginia	396,843	$124.8
Miami, Florida	509,133	$124.0
Tampa, Florida	448,013	$109.5
New Orleans, Louisiana	320,908	$99.3
Cape Coral, Florida	318,004	$78.4
North Port, Florida	254,218	$64.6
Boston, Massachusetts	148,005	$59.5
Naples, Florida	196,454	$54.9
Charleston, South Carolina	148,987	$53.3
Houston, Texas	192,937	$52.6
Jacksonville, Florida	154,177	$46.1
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	120,426	$42.1
Salisbury, Maryland	138,295	$40.9

Other metro areas, such as Miami and Houston, are also familiar with hurricanes. According to NOAA’s historical trackers, there have been 48 and 28 hurricanes within 60 nautical miles of Miami and Houston’s counties since the beginning of the 20th century.  

How to Protect Your Property During Hurricane Season

For homeowners and real estate investors who own property in areas that are more prone to hurricane and storm damage, it’s essential to understand and know the risks these storms present to your property, Maiclaire Bolton-Smith, vice president of hazard and risk management at CoreLogic, told BiggerPockets. “When you know your risk, you can accelerate your recovery,” she added.

She added that the other key to preparing is to understand your insurance policy, knowing what is covered and what isn’t. For example, flood insurance is not mandatory unless the property is mortgaged and in a FEMA-designated flood zone. If a property is damaged by flooding and isn’t covered, you could end up footing the bill yourself.

“As we have seen from events like Hurricane Harvey in 2017, flooding damage can be extreme and often not limited to designated flood zones, so understanding what is covered is critical. That’s not something you want to find out after a home has sustained hurricane damage,” Bolton-Smith said.

Besides insurance, you can also fortify your home, such as making sure the roof is in good condition and there are no loose shingles, as well as ensuring there are no large trees or other items that could damage your home, she added. 

Does It Still Make Sense to Buy In Areas Prone to Climate Disasters? 

Hurricanes and other climate disasters have been more frequent and extreme in recent years. This increases the risk of potential property damage and costs—and has caused insurance premiums to skyrocket in many areas. And it seems that this trend will only get worse, with as many as 40 million homes at risk of a spike in insurance premiums. 

“The reality is, risk of some kind is present in most places,” said Bolton-Smith. She lives in California, which faces both earthquake and wildfire risks. And while it’s unlikely a hurricane would hit every area mentioned in CoreLogic’s report, there is a chance of multiple disaster events in one year.

Still, technology and building codes have greatly improved to ensure that homes are fortified against risk, such as with magnesium siding or reinforced doors and windows.

Ultimately, “I think it comes down to understanding the potential risk and deciding whether you’re comfortable with it and knowing what resources you have to mitigate it,” Bolton-Smith said.

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.