Hurricane season is upon the US and is set to linger until the end of November.
Researchers have identified over 300 counties along the east coast most vulnerable to destructive storms.
The data revealed that the worst spots are Broward and Palm Beach counties in Florida.
All but one of the ten most hurricane-prone counties are in Florida, North Carolina or South Carolina – the only exception is Chatham County, Georgia.
Scientists have predicted that the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season will be ‘above normal’ with up to 21 named storms, of which half could become hurricanes with 74 miles per hour or greater winds.
While California is being battered by tropical storm Hilary, getting a direct strike from a storm is exceedingly rare there – records indicate perhaps once a century.
Since 1900, only three still-tropical storms have hit California.
The analysis also found that over the last 10 years, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have been hit or affected by four Category 5 hurricanes between 2013 and 2022
Researchers have identified over 300 counties along the east coast most vulnerable to destructive storms
The new analysis, conducted by Gutter Gnome, comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is tracking three topical storms – Franklin, Gert and Emily – in the Atlantic that could turn into hurricanes.
The official hurricane season for the Atlantic basin is from June 1 to November 30, but tropical cyclone activity sometimes occurs before and after these dates
The Atlantic basin experienced an active start to the hurricane season with five storms that have already reached at least tropical storm strength, including one hurricane.
An average hurricane season produces 14 named storms, of which seven become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
Gutter Gnome partnered with researchers from Pennsylvania State University, NOAA and Louisiana State University for this analysis.
The team used three categories to determine the rankings: Risk, hurricane history and financial impact.
‘For each 318 U.S. counties with a Hurricane Risk Score determined by the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below,’ the company shared in a blog post.
Florida’s Broward County ranked the most vulnerable with a score of 72.70. Hurricane Irma hit the region in 2017, clocking in as a Category 5 with winds speeds of 117 miles per hour and causing at least six million Floridians to evacuate
Palm Beach County in Florida ranked second with a score of 72.09. Hurricane Ian ripped through Palm Beach County in September 2022, leaving more than 2.7 million residents without power
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each county to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall.
‘A county’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories.
The highest Overall Score ranked ‘Most Vulnerable’ (No. 1), and the lowest ‘Least Vulnerable’ (No. 318).’
Florida’s Broward County ranked the most vulnerable with a score of 72.70.
This region sits in the southeastern part of Florida, located in the Miami metropolitan area and is the second most populous country after Miami-Dade country.
Hurricane Irma hit the region in 2017, clocking in as a Category 5 with winds speeds of 117 miles per hour and causing at least six million Floridians to evacuate.
Approximately 129 direct and indirect deaths were caused by Hurricane Irma, and $50 billion in damages were left behind, leading it to rank the fifth-costliest hurricane to hit the mainland US.
Palm Beach County in Florida ranked second with a score of 72.09.
The region stretches from Florida’s Atlantic coast into the state’s rural center and includes the northern edge of the Everglades national park – and it has experienced 98 hurricanes since 1930.
Hurricane Ian ripped through Palm Beach County in September 2022, leaving more than 2.7 million residents without power.
The storm brought in 155-mile-per-hour winds, and some areas saw up to seven inches of rain.
South Carolina’s Charleston County was found to be the third most vulnerable in the US.
Charleston County is located along the Atlantic coast and received an overall score of 68.17.
Much of New England and the Texas coast are the calmest regions. Hurricanes tend to be rare in these areas and therefore face a low risk of physical and monetary damages
This region has been hit by several devastating events, particularly Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which killed 67 people and left behind $11 billion in damages.
When the hurricane made landfall in the county, it unleashed 140-mile-per-hour winds and clocked in as a Category 4 storm.
Horry County, South Carolina came in fourth, followed by Miami-Dade County, Florida.
‘The Sunshine State might also be called the Hurricane State, as two counties, Broward and Palm Beach, occupy the two worst spots for hurricane risk. It’s also no surprise that the Southeast has the biggest hurricane vulnerability, our ranking confirms,’ shared Gutter Gnome.
‘In fact, the 10 percent most susceptible counties are made up almost entirely of only three states: Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Chatham County, Georgia (No. 8), and Harris County, Texas (No. 13), are the lone exceptions in this group.
‘Conversely, much of New England and the Texas coast are the calmest regions. Hurricanes tend to be rare in these areas and therefore face a low risk of physical and monetary damages.’
The analysis also found that over the last 10 years, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have been hit or affected by four Category 5 hurricanes between 2013 and 2022.
Honolulu County, Hawaii (No. 53 overall), is the only Pacific county in our ranking and registered the most hurricane activity, with 12 in the past 10 years.
In this region, hurricanes — as tropical cyclones are known on the Atlantic Coast — are called ‘typhoons.’ They are the same weather phenomenon.
