Which states are most prepared for a natural disaster?

The five states best prepared for a natural disaster

D.C. has the highest resilience score, making it best able to respond to a natural disaster, followed by Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A small geographic area and a limited range of potential disasters help these states prepare. Minnesota is the only state in the top five that is not on the East Coast, and is the largest state.

1. District of Columbia

Community Resilience score: 93.29
Risk Index: 97.58
Most common disaster: Severe storms

Despite having the highest overall Risk Index score among the top five, D.C. ranks first in community resilience. That makes it well-prepared and able to respond and recover, largely due to its small size and its role as the seat of government, where resources are easier to access. The most common disaster in D.C. is severe storms, with nine disasters declared since 1953.

2. Massachusetts

Community Resilience score: 92.53
Risk Index: 78.84
Most common natural disaster: Hurricanes

Even with an above-average risk score, Massachusetts ranks No. 2 in preparedness thanks to a high resilience score. While the state has had more disaster declarations for hurricanes than any other event at 106, snowstorms (93) and severe storms (90) aren’t far behind.

3. Rhode Island

Community Resilience score: 88.30
Risk Index: 56.59
Most common disaster: Hurricanes

Rhode Island has a lower risk index than the top two. Still, it is highly resilient and has a less broad risk, with hurricanes (43), snowstorms (33) and severe storms (29) covering the majority of disaster declarations since 1953.

4. Minnesota

Community Resilience score: 86.22
Risk Index: 42.38
Most common disaster: Flood

Minnesota’s Risk Index score is the only one in the top five to fall under the national average. Since 1953, Minnesota has declared a disaster for 719 floods, making it the most common natural disaster in the state by a wide margin. The predictable nature of spring flooding due to snowmelt likely contributes to the state’s preparedness.

5. Maine

Community Resilience score: 57.72
Risk Index: 56.75
Most common disaster: Severe storms

Maine’s small size, like that of other states on this list, likely contributes to its preparedness, allowing resources to travel to disaster areas quickly. Since 1953, Maine has declared 165 disasters for severe storms and 106 for floods.

The five states that are the least prepared for a natural disaster

Nevada is the least prepared state for a natural disaster, followed by Arizona and New Mexico. Fire is the most common disaster in all three states, but they also face threats from flooding, storms and more, making it hard to prepare.

“It is impossible for a state to prepare for all types of natural disasters with equal vigilance – there are real-world limitations on time, attention span, funding, and more,” K.C. Rondello, clinical associate professor, Public Health and Emergency Management at Adelphi University, says. States with many natural disasters may have to spread their resources more thinly.

1. Nevada

Community Resilience score: 9.27
Risk Index: 46.25
Most common natural disaster: Fire

Nevada’s dry, hot climate easily makes fire the most common natural disaster in the state. Nevada has made 88 natural disaster declarations for fires since 1953, far outstripping any other natural disaster in the state, but it also faces severe storms and even snowstorms. The state has the lowest community resilience score and the only score below 10 on the list.

2. Arizona

Community Resilience score: 11.26
Risk Index: 46.25
Most common natural disaster: Fire

Arizona’s extremely low Community Resilience score indicates that the state will have difficulty responding to and recovering from a disaster. Fire is the most common disaster in the state, with 97 declarations since 1953, followed by floods at 83 declarations. These two require very different responses, stretching resources.

3. New Mexico

Community Resilience score: 14.75
Risk Index: 58.92
Most common natural disaster: Fire

New Mexico, another state with many fires, ranks No. 3 for community resilience. Fire is the most common disaster, with 156 disasters declared since 1953, but the state also sees floods and severe storms. The Risk Index score is above average, making low community resilience an even bigger concern.

4. Alaska

Community Resilience score: 23.06
Risk Index: 35.22
Most common natural disaster: Severe storms

Alaska’s resilience score is well below the national average, likely impacted by the state’s terrain and weather, which can make it difficult to respond to a disaster. Severe storms are the most common, with 78 disasters declared, but the state also faces earthquakes, fires, snowstorms and floods, among other disasters, making the type of risk broad and difficult to prepare for.

5. Idaho

Community Resilience score: 25.23
Risk Index: 38.51
Most common natural disaster: Floods

Idaho’s resilience score isn’t much higher than Alaska’s, but its risk score is much lower. Still, the state faces a wide variety of threats, with floods the most common at 93 disaster declarations since 1953. Fires, severe storms and even earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have affected the state.

How prepared is your state for a natural disaster?

The national average Community Resilience score is 53.86, and the national average Risk Index score is 56.67. Find your state on the map below to see how it compares.

Map

Table

State	Average risk index, all counties (FEMA)	Average community resilience index, all counties (FEMA)	Most common natural disaster (FEMA) and # of disaster declarations since 1953
Alabama	10.97	53.02	Severe storms (43)
Alaska	6.14	47.18	Fire (25)
Arizona	23.68	49.77	Fire (73)
Arkansas	12.9	52.53	Severe storms (28)
California	28.1	52.85	Fire (278)
Colorado	7.93	53.12	Fire (76)
Connecticut	8.76	57.72	Hurricane (14)
Delaware	13.24	56.53	Hurricane (10)
Florida	19.65	52.71	Fire (67)
Georgia	8.36	53	Severe storms (16)
Hawaii	18.01	49.72	Fire (20)
Idaho	8.2	52.36	Fire (22)
Illinois	9.87	56.7	Severe storms (25)
Indiana	8.66	55.55	Severe storms (24)
Iowa	10.82	57.9	Severe storms (31)
Kansas	9.58	52.28	Severe storms (39)
Kentucky	8.65	53.81	Severe storms (32)
Louisiana	12.85	55.9	Hurricane (36)
Maine	8.72	56.91	Severe storms (22)
Maryland	9.72	56.59	Flood (10)
Massachusetts	10.06	57.62	Severe storms (12)
Michigan	7.65	55.31	Flood (12)
Minnesota	8.57	59.1	Flood (29)
Mississippi	11.56	53.14	Severe storms (38)
Missouri	11.13	54.75	Severe storms (37)
Montana	6.83	54.43	Fire (64)
Nebraska	9.43	56.36	Severe storms (33)
Nevada	16.26	48.6	Fire (75)
New Hampshire	7.43	56.57	Severe storms (23)
New Jersey	16.92	56.68	Severe storms (18)
New Mexico	14.23	51.8	Fire (65)
New York	11.42	56.94	Severe storms (28)
North Carolina	13.57	54.41	Hurricane (33)
North Dakota	6.17	57.21	Flood (32)
Ohio	8.47	56.84	Severe storms (24)
Oklahoma	12.36	53.45	Fire (106)
Oregon	15.53	53.29	Fire (100)
Pennsylvania	8.79	56.8	Flood (26)
Rhode Island	7.51	57.16	Hurricane (10)
South Carolina	12.78	53.7	Hurricane (17)
South Dakota	8.01	57.1	Severe storms (31)
Tennessee	10.14	53.52	Severe storms (36)
Texas	12.89	52.3	Fire (258)
Utah	7.27	54.19	Fire (33)
Vermont	11.42	56.94	Severe storms (25)
Virginia	6.5	54.92	Severe storms (18)
Washington	14.56	52.99	Fire (128)
Washington, D.C.	14.99	58.89	Severe storms (9)
West Virginia	7.33	52.49	Flood (31)
Wisconsin	7.34	56.91	Severe storms (20)
Wyoming	6.15	51.91	Fire (22)

Read our methodology

*Some state rates will vary based on the addition of a hurricane deductible and may be much higher when included.

How does FEMA calculate the Risk Index and Community Resilience scores?

FEMA calculates the National Risk Index (NRI) by multiplying a community's Expected Annual Loss by its Community Risk Factor (Social Vulnerability) and the inverse of the Community Resilience Score. A higher Community Resilience will receive a lower overall National Risk Index score because the area is better able to handle a crisis.

The Community Resilience score is calculated based on 22 factors that impact an area’s ability to prepare for and respond to a disaster. Those factors fall into five categories:

Population Characteristics:

Unemployed labor force
Population without a high school diploma
Population age 65 and older
Population with a disability
Households with limited English
Single-parent households
Households without a vehicle
Households without a smartphone
Households without a broadband subscription

Economic Factors

Population below the poverty level
Median household income
Unemployed women in the labor force
Income inequality (measured via the Gini Index)
Workforce in a single predominant sector (lack of economic diversification)

Housing

Mobile homes as a percentage of total housing
Housing units that are owner-occupied
Severe housing cost burden (housing costs as a large percentage of household income)
Residential structures without flood insurance in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs)

Healthcare Capacity

Number of hospitals
Medical professional capacity (ratio of healthcare workers to residents)
Population without health insurance
Medicare recipients who rely on power-dependent medical devices

Connection to Community

Presence of civic and social organizations
Population without religious affiliation
Percentage of inactive voters
Rapid population change (unusual growth or decline)

What makes a state more prepared for a disaster?

Modern building codes, prioritizing common disasters and the ability to coordinate disaster response are all vital to preparing for a natural disaster. States that do these things well have high resilience.

Modern building codes. Structures that can withstand disasters reduce both the financial and human impacts of disasters. "States with modern building codes are better prepared for natural disasters. They also increase the safety and integrity of structures, thereby reducing deaths, injuries and property damage," Dr. Ian Giammanco, senior director for Standards & Data Analytics at the Insurance Institute for Building & Home Safety (IBHS), a nonprofit research organization.
Preparation for the most common disaster. Prioritizing preparation for the most likely disaster moves resources in the right direction. “If a state is frequently the target of a given disaster type, preparation for that threat is prioritized – in minds, on meeting agendas and in budgets – making it easier for municipal authorities to be prepared,” says Rondello.
Coordination of response efforts. States with systems in place to coordinate and execute plans across state and county levels are ready to respond. "The biggest factor is coordination," Timothy Derham, CEO of Universal Casualty, an insurance risk retention group, says, "There are disaster plans ranging from the state level to the county level, but what actually matters is the ability to implement those plans."

What can you do to prepare for a natural disaster?

Prepare for a natural disaster by learning what resources are available both at the state level and locally, and then preparing your own response with an emergency kit and a plan you and your family share for staying safe.

Research local and state resources for disaster response and recovery. These plans exist, but are not always clearly outlined for the public. “Individual states have become more resilient with well-developed, comprehensive disaster mitigation and response plans spearheaded by experienced, well-educated, seasoned Emergency Management professionals. Unfortunately, these plans are often not well communicated to the public. Frequently, most laypeople don’t consider the importance of understanding their state’s preparations,” Rondello says.
Make your own family plans. In addition to educating yourself on state and county-level preparedness plans, you can take steps to make sure you and your family are ready when disaster strikes. “While there will likely be federal, state and local resources available to assist in your disaster recovery, they should never be relied upon for sole support. These assets will inevitably be overburdened, incomplete and delayed in arriving. To the greatest extent possible, individuals should strive to be self-sufficient in their disaster mitigation planning,” Rondello says.

Ready.gov offers tips to help you prepare:

Make a plan. Using the simple disaster plan form provided, you can make sure the entire family has contact information and knows what to do and where to go. Discuss the plan with everyone in the family.
Know the risks. Know which type of disaster is likely to strike your area so you can make specific preparations.
Build an emergency kit. Start today and add to your emergency kit over time to keep the expense down. Include fresh water, non-perishable food (and a way to open it), blankets and clothes, supplies of any needed prescriptions, a first aid kit, batteries and a flashlight and copies of vital documents. Be ready to leave if you have to. "[People] should also be prepared to leave on a moment's notice with enough cash on hand as well as a quick, ready-to-go bag with essential supplies," Derham says.

Harden your home. You can also plan months and years ahead by making sure your home is ready, such as by hardening your home against wildfires.. "A lot of wildfire mitigation can be done as DIY, especially landscaping properly to make a significant potential impact on reducing fire risk," Giammanco says.
Check your insurance. Make sure that you have the right insurance to protect you in the event of a disaster. While standard home insurance policies cover things like storms, they don’t cover floods or earthquakes. And in some states, windstorms or hurricanes require separate coverage. "Protecting your property also includes making sure you understand how your insurance may or may not help cover damage caused by severe weather," Tanya Robinson, Associate Manager with Allstate, says.

A disaster can happen at any time, so it’s vital to prepare yourself well ahead of time. Regardless of your state’s preparations, it’s your preparedness that will make a difference in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

“During [the] non-disaster/inter-disaster period, individuals have the greatest opportunity to harden their homes, become more resilient and prepare for a variety of different hazards,” Rondello says.

Methodology

To rank states for disaster preparedness, Insurance.com used FEMA’s Community Resilience score county-level data, which rates states for their ability to respond to and reduce the impact of a natural disaster. FEMA’s National Risk Index county-level data, which is calculated using the Community Resilience score, was also used to present overall risk. The state scores were calculated as an average of all county scores. The most common disaster in each state was sourced from FEMA’s Disasters and Declarations.