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How Often Do Natural Disasters Happen in the U.S.?

author-photoWritten & Edited by Fran Majidi
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Fran Majidi

Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about i...

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Updated February 19, 2025

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Natural disasters affect millions of people in the U.S. In 2023, there were 262 U.S. fatalities reported due to winter storms and cold waves alone. In total, there were 738 U.S. fatalities due to natural disasters. [1] In 2024 the U.S. also saw $135 billion in insured losses due to natural disasters, and there were also uninsured losses the victims probably had to shoulder alone. [2]

Tornados, floods, drought, wildfires, earthquakes, winter storms and hurricanes often claim lives and cause great destruction to personal property, and there are more extreme weather events each year. Here are more natural disasters insights and relevant insurance information to help you protect yourself and your family.

Key Takeaways

  • There is a type of insurance for most natural disasters, and homeowners insurance covers many of them.
  • Catastrophic natural disasters can happen in any state, but each state has severe weather conditions unique to its climate.
  • Rebuilding after a natural disaster is expensive, so it’s important to be insured with the right products and the right carrier.
  • Flood and earthquake insurance, or a DIC policy, must be bought separately.

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Are Natural Disasters Common in the U.S.?

Where you live dictates how prone you are to property losses and the danger of fatalities. Whether you’re in a cold climate or a hot one, or one that tends to see strong winds, there is a peril that is common where you live.

  • In the Northwest, Central and Eastern U.S.winter storms and cold waves are common. In 2021, the area experienced 262 deaths as a result.

  • In the Southern and Midwestern states, drought and heat waves are common; in 2023 the area experienced 247 deaths as a result.

  • Drought and heat waves are also common in the Western states, where 229 people died in 2021 as a result. Wildfires are caused by heat and drought.

  • The most flood-prone states include the following, but it’s important to note that flooding affects many states, especially in certain areas of that state. No state is immune to floods [4]:

    • Florida

    • California

    • Louisiana

    • New Jersey

    • North Carolina

    • Mississippi

    • Texas

    • New York

    • Virginia

    • South Carolina

    • Missouri

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In 2021, there were about 770 total U.S. fatalities due to natural disasters.

What Is the Most Common Natural Disaster?

Flooding is the most common natural disaster, and it is not covered by homeowners insurance. You must buy a flood insurance policy to be protected from damage caused by a flood resulting from a storm. In 2024, 181 people in the U.S. died as a result of floods, compared with 79 fatalities in 2023. [3]

How Often Do Natural Disasters Occur?

On average about 417 natural disasters occur annually worldwide. In 2023, the U.S. had the most natural disasters among all the countries, with 25 recorded events. [5] As global warming continues to increase, more natural disasters are expected to happen each year.

Which Natural Disasters Caused the Most Damage in 2024?

In 2024, the deadliest storm in the U.S. was a Category 4 hurricane that occurred during the usual hurricane season. Hurricane Helene pounded the Southeast region in late September, killing at least 225 people across several states. Most of the casualties were in North Carolina, where it’s estimated that the storm caused roughly $60 billion in damages. [6]

Which States Had the Most Losses Caused by Natural Disasters?

Extreme weather events are expensive for everyone, whether it’s the homeowner who loses their home and car, or the insurer who will have to pay out thousands of people in a devastated area, causing insurance prices to increase for everyone in that neighborhood.

In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton were especially destructive over the course of two weeks, causing more than $100 billion in damages in the following states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. [7]

If a natural disaster strikes your area, it’s easier to rebuild your life if you have homeowners insurance.

What Are the Most Common Natural Disasters in Each State?

Some common disasters, like floods and earthquakes, have their own insurance products, so don’t expect homeowners insurance to cover damage related to those perils. A Difference in Conditions (DIC) policy is also sold separately and covers flooding and landslides.

State

Common Disasters

Insurance Coverage

Alabama

Severe storms, tropical storms and hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, extreme heat, landslides,

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance

Alaska

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, or onshore landslides

Homeowners, earthquake insurance, DIC policy for landslides

Arizona

Lightning, strong winds, flooding, and dust storms

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance

Arkansas

Tornadoes, widespread wind damage, flash flooding, and heavy snow/ice

Homeowners insurance, and flood insurance

California

Wildfires, floods, landslides and mudslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, earthquake insurance, and DIC policy

Colorado

Droughts, wildfires, floods, and tornadoes

Homeowners insurance, and flood insurance

Connecticut

Severe thunderstorms, flash floods, snowstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance

Delaware

tropical storms and hurricanes, nor'easters, winter storms, severe thunderstorms, floods, and extreme heat

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), and flood insurance

District of Columbia

Wildfires, floods, severe storms, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, and volcanoes

Homeowners insurance, DIC policy, earthquake insurance, volcanic eruption insurance, and flood insurance

Florida

Tropical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), and flood insurance

Georgia

Hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, wildfires and floods

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), and flood insurance

Hawaii

Tropical storms, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), earthquake insurance, DIC policy and flood insurance

Idaho

Wildfires, winter storms, drought, landslides, earthquakes, and flooding

Homeowners insurance, DIC policy, earthquake insurance and flood insurance

Illinois

Thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods and flash floods, damaging winds and large hail

Homeowners insurance and flood insurance

Indiana

Severe storms, floods, winter storms, tornadoes, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance and a DIC policy.

Iowa

Tornados, winter storms, snow storms, and floods

Homeowners insurance and flood insurance.

Kansas

Severe storms, floods, tornadoes, winter storms, wildfires, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance and a DIC policy

Kentucky

Drought, flood, wildfires, hail, tornados, earthquake, extreme heat, winter storms, and extreme cold

Homeowners insurance, earthquake insurance, and flood insurance.

Louisiana

Floods, hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes, extreme heat and drought, wildfires, ice storms, and landslides

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance and a DIC policy

Maine

Severe storms, floods, winter storms, hurricanes, landslides, and drought

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, DIC policy

Maryland

Floods, hurricanes, severe storms, winter storms, tornadoes, wildfires, landslides, and extreme heat

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance and a DIC policy

Massachusetts

Severe storms, hurricanes, winter storms, floods, wildfires, landslides, and tsunamis

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, DIC policy

Michigan

Floods, severe storms, winter storms, wildfires, and tornadoes

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance

Minnesota

Floods, severe storms, tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms, heat waves, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance and a DIC policy

Mississippi

Severe storms, hurricanes, extreme heat and drought, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, landslides, and earthquakes

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, DIC policy, earthquake insurance

Missouri

Severe storms, floods, severe winter weather, tornadoes, and earthquakes

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance and earthquake insurance

Montana

Wildfires, floods, winter storms, severe storms, extreme heat and drought, earthquakes, landslides, and tornadoes

Homeowners insurance, earthquake insurance, flood insurance DIC policy

Nebraska

Severe storms, floods, tornadoes, winter storms, heat waves, and drought

Homeowners insurance, possibly with a wind deductible, flood insurance

Nevada

Wildfires, floods, earthquakes, heatwaves and drought, extreme winter weather, severe storms, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, earthquake insurance and DIC policy

New Hampshire

Severe storms, floods, winter storms, hurricanes, nor'easters, wildfires, landslides and tornadoes

Homeowners insurance (possibly with a separate wind deductible) flood insurance, DIC policy

New Jersey

Severe storms, tropical storms and hurricanes, floods, winter storms, wildfires, extreme heat, drought, and landslides

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, DIC policy

New Mexico

Wildfires, floods, severe storms, extreme heat and drought, landslides, winter storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanos and tropical storms

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, volcanic eruption insurance, DIC policy, and earthquake insurance,

New York

Severe storms, floods, winter storms, tropical storms, and wildfires

Homeowners insurance, with a separate hurricane deductible, flood insurance

North Carolina

Tropical storms and hurricanes, severe storms, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes, tsunamis, extreme heat and drought, and landslides

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, and DIC policy

North Dakota

Floods, severe storms, winter storms, wildfires, extreme heat and drought, tornadoes, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, DIC policy

Ohio

Severe storms, floods, tornadoes, winter storms, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, DIC policy

Oklahoma

Wildfires, severe storms, tornadoes, floods, winter storms, extreme heat, and droughts

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance

Oregon

Wildfires, severe storms, floods, droughts, earthquakes, winter storms, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, earthquake insurance, volcanic eruption insurance, DIC policy

Pennsylvania

Floods, severe storms, tropical storms, winter storms, tornadoes, landslides, wildfires, and earthquakes

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), DIC policy, and earthquake insurance

Rhode Island

Tropical storms and hurricanes, winter storms, severe storms, floods, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and wildfires

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, and DIC policy

South Carolina

Hurricanes, severe storms, floods, wildfires, extreme heat and drought, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides

Homeowners insurance (separate hurricane deductible), earthquake insurance, flood insurance and DIC policy

South Dakota

Severe storms, floods, winter storms, droughts, tornadoes, wildfires, landslides, and earthquakes

Homeowners insurance, DIC policy and earthquake insurance

Tennessee

Severe storms, thunder and lightning, heavy rains, hail, ice storms, winter storms with heavy snow, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, landslides, earthquakes, and tropical storms

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, DIC policy, and earthquake insurance

Texas

Wildfires, floods, hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes, extreme heat, and landslides

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, and DIC policy

Utah

Wildfires, earthquakes, floods, severe storms, winter storms, extreme heat, and drought

Homeowners insurance, earthquake insurance, flood insurance

Vermont

Severe storms, floods, winter storms, tropical storms, hurricanes, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and DIC policy

Virginia

Severe storms, tropical storms, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, winter storms, extreme heat, landslides, drought, and earthquakes

Homeowners insurance (with a separate hurricane deductible), flood insurance, DIC policy, and earthquake insurance

Washington

Wildfires, floods, severe storms, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, and volcanoes

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, DIC policy, earthquake insurance, volcanic eruption insurance

West Virginia

Floods, severe storms, winter storms, wildfires, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and DIC policy

Wisconsin

Severe storms, floods, tornadoes, winter storms, extreme heat and drought, wildfires, and landslides

Homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and DIC policy

Wyoming

Wildfires, floods, severe storms, landslides, droughts, winter storms, and earthquakes

Homeowners insurance, DIC policy and earthquake insurance

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Tornados, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, winter storms and hurricanes often claim lives and cause great destruction each year.

The Top 23 Deadliest Natural Disasters in American History

Whether it was an earthquake, an ice storm, a heat wave or hurricane, the following natural disasters cost billions and took thousands of lives. In many of these events, only survivors who were insured were able to rebuild their lives right away. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Storm

Date

Property Damage
in Billions

Fatalities

Hurricane Galveston

1900

$105 billion;

8,000-10,000
Heat Wave of 1988 1988 $61 5,000
Dust Bowl 1930s $1.9 3,000
Great San Francisco Fire and Earthquake 1906 $30 3,000
Hurricane Maria 2017 $115.2 2,975
Lake Okeechobee Hurricane 1928 $18 2,500
Hurricane Katrina 2005 $201.3 1,836
Heat Wave of 1980 1980 $48 1,700
Superstorm Sandy 2012 $93 254
Hurricane Helene 2024 $78.7 230+
Winter Storm Uri 2021 $80 to $130 210+
Hurricane Irma 2017 $64 134+
Hurricane Ida 2021 $75.2 112

Hurricane Harvey

2017

$160.0

107

Hurricane Ike

2008

$43.2

103
Hurricane Ian 2022 $119.6 101

Maui Wildfires

 2023 $5.5 100+

Camp Fire

2018

$10.7

86

Great Flood of 1993

1993

$15

50

Los Angeles Fires

2025

$20 - $50

27

Hurricane Andrew

1992

$27.3

26

Tubbs Fire

2017

$9.5

22

Woolsey Fire

2018

$6

3

A Difference in Conditions (DIC) policy is also sold separately and covers flooding and landslides.

What Can I Do To Prepare for a Natural Disaster Where I Live?

Buy the right insurance products, by making sure the common disasters in your area are listed as a “covered peril.” You may have a separate wind deductible if you live in a state that experiences hurricanes and tornadoes.

For states where some insurers won’t sell homeowners insurance, compare rates to see which companies will take your property. Also, you can visit your state’s Department of Insurance for a list of last-resort providers.

There are steps you can take to make your home more disaster prone as well. For instance, in areas with wildfires, create an 8-10 foot defensible space around the home, free of objects, trees, combustible items and foliage that can catch fire. [11]

In windstorm-prone states, it’s important to reinforce the roof and install storm shutters. Cleaning gutters and downspouts is important for preventing water buildup. Trimming trees and loose objects will prevent some damage to the home as well. [12]

Having an evacuation plan is also key, and so is having a homeowners insurance inventory, so you can more easily file a home insurance claim. Make sure to take photos after the storm or weather event.

If a natural disaster strikes your area, it’s easier to rebuild your life if you have homeowners insurance. If you’re not covered or if you’re looking to buy a more comprehensive policy without paying too much, compare rates. You may even end up saving hundreds of dollars if you’ve never filed a claim or missed payments. Start receiving your free home insurance quotes after entering your zip code below and answering a few questions.

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Natural Disasters FAQs

What is the most common natural disaster?

Floods are the most common natural disaster. Floods are caused by tornados, hurricanes, heavy rainfalls, melting snow or storm surges from coastal regions.

Where do natural disasters happen most often?

California is the state with the most natural disasters, with close to 300 federally declared disasters since 1953, and 84 of them occurred within a four-year period, between 2015-2019. [8][9]

Does Homeowners insurance cover natural disasters?

Homeowners insurance covers many, but not all, natural disasters. Flood insurance and earthquake insurance are sold separately and so are DIC policies, if you live in a region prone to mudslides and landslides.

What types of home insurance cover natural disasters?

Homeowners insurance comes with different levels of coverage and different numbers of perils that are covered. Most Americans have an Ho-3 policy which covers the most common perils, like fire, windstorms, hail and the weight of snow, ice and sleet as well as the freezing of pipes and systems. Flood and earthquake policies must be bought separately. [10] 

Sources

  1. National Safety Council (NSC). Weather-Related Deaths and Injuries.

  2. Swiss Re Group. Hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and floods drive insured losses above USD 100 billion for 5th consecutive year, says Swiss Re Institute.

  3. Weather.gov. NWS Preliminary US Flood Fatality Statistics.

  4. Puro Clean Restoration. Top 10 States Most at Risk for Flooding.

  5. Statistica. Natural disasters - statistics & facts.

  6. U.S. News & World Report. The 10 Deadliest Natural Disasters in 2024.

  7. Climate.gov. 2024: An active year of U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters.

  8. Franchise Tax Board. List of California disasters.

  9. World Population Review. Natural Disasters by State 2024

  10. Insurance Information Institute (III). Which disasters are covered by homeowners insurance?

  11. California Department of Insurance. Prevention and Preparedness.

  12. Real Manage. How to Hurricane Proof Your Home.

  13. Kiplinger. The Most Expensive Natural Disasters in US History

  14. The Zebra. Worst wildfires in U.S. history.

  15. Comptroller Texas.gov. Winter Storm Uri 2021: The Economic Impact of the Storm

  16. Wikipedia. Hurricane Ida.

  17. NOAA.gov. The Great USA Flood of 1993

  18. National Weather Service. Hurricane Andrew 1992. 

  19. Wikipedia. Hurricane Irma. 

  20. ABC News. Hurricane Helene updates: Death toll surpasses 230 as rescue efforts continue.

  21. Wikipedia. Hurricane Sandy.

  22. Wikipedia. Hurricane Maria death toll controversy.

  23. Wikipedia. Hurricane Harvey.

 

 

About the Author
Fran Majidi
Fran Majidi
Home Insurance Expert

Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about insurance-related topics. Prior, she was an arts and entertainment editor in New York City. She has a B.A. from Barnard College and an M.F.A. in writing from The New School.

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