Hurricane-driven storm-surge inundation is one of the most disastrous natural flooding events that can occur. With billions of dollars in property damage and countless lives lost to storm surge, the U.S. in recent years has seen more than its fair share of destruction produced by these natural catastrophes.

CoreLogic examined the exposure of single residential structures (homes) to storm surge within 10 predefined geographic areas in the U.S. The figures used reflect current structure value and do not consider replacement costs, contents, auto, life, and business interruption.

Follow along as we look at the Category 5 exposure, hurricane probability, storm-surge vulnerability, and residential density for 10 at-risk coastal cities and areas.

#10: MOBILE-GULF SHORES, ALA.

Mobile-Gulf Shore, Alabama

A Category 5 hurricane strike the Alabama shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico would expose over $3 billion worth of residences to storm surge, affecting more than 31,000 properties. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1, it could cause residents total property damage of more than $250 million, affecting more than 2,100 homes.

Category 5 Exposure: $3,037,177,310

Hurricane Probability: High

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: High

Residential Density: Medium

#9: Corpus Christi, Texas

Corpus Christi, Texas

A Category 5 hurricane hitting the Corpus Christi area would expose nearly $4.7 billion worth of residential property, affecting a total of 44,000 properties. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could cause Corpus Christi residents total property damage of more than $593 million, affecting over 6,100 homes.

Category 5 Exposure: $4,686,866,645

Hurricane Probability: Extreme

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: High

Residential Density: Medium

#8: Charleston, South Carolina

A Category 5 hurricane slamming Charleston, which is home to some of the most historic neighborhoods in the U.S. (more than 81,000 properties), could affect a total of $17.7 billion worth of residences. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could cause area residents total property damage of over $8 billion.

Total Category 5 Exposure: $17,743,046,566

Hurricane Probability: Medium

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: High

Residential Density: Medium

#7: Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

A Category 5 hurricane striking the Jacksonville, Fla.-area could cause up to $19.6 billion worth of damage and would affect more than 135,000 properties in the area. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could cause area residents total property damage of more than $3.5 billion, affecting more than 16,000 homes.

Category 5 Exposure: $19,612,946,046

Hurricane Probability: Extreme

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: High

Residential Density: High

#6: Houston, Texas

A Category 5 hurricane slamming the Houston area could cause property damage of more than $20 billion to residential properties and nearly 180,000 properties could be inundated with storm surge. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could cause area residents total property damage of more than $1.9 billion.

Category 5 Exposure: $20,226,317,003

Hurricane Probability: Extreme

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: Extreme

Residential Density: High

#5: Tampa, Florida

A Category 5 hurricane striking the Tampa shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico could cause more than $27 billion worth of property damage and inundate more than 277,000 properties with storm surge. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could cause area residents total property damage of more than $8 billion, affecting nearly 64,000 homes.

Category 5 Exposure: $27,506,921,999

Hurricane Probability: Extreme

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: High

Residential Density: High

#4: New Orleans, Louisiana

Six years after Katrina pushed a massive surge that overtopped levees and floodwalls in the greater New Orleans area, the Army Corps of Engineers has completed raising the area levees, rebuilding flood walls, and creating a massive Lake Borgne Surge Barrier. The Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System is designed to provide a 100-year level of protection for, and essentially to withstand, a surge created by a Category 1 to Category 3 hurricane. As a result of these changes, a significant number of properties previously in a storm-surge zone will now be out of the extreme- and high-risk zones.

A lack of coastal irregularities such as substantial barrier islands or hills, and the Gulf of Mexico's flat bottom make southern Louisiana especially susceptible to storm surge. New Orleans sits mostly below sea level on the east bank of the Mississippi River and south of Lake Pontchartrain. A Category 5 hurricane striking the New Orleans area would inundate nearly $39 billion worth of residences and more than 278,000 properties with storm surge. If levees are topped or fail, as they did in the case of Hurricane Katrina, the water would be trapped within these areas, causing additional damage. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could still inundate more than $26 billion worth of property and affect more than 196,000 homes.

Category 5 Exposure: $38,863,232,202

Hurricane Probability: High

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: Extreme

Residential Density: Medium

#3: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach sits on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, which is the largest estuary in the U.S., covering more than 64,000 square miles and spanning across several states. The Hampton Roads Core Based Statistical Area (officially known as the Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News, VA–NC CBSA) is the 36th largest in the U.S., with a total population of 1,671,683, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

A Category 5 hurricane striking the Virginia Beach area could cause nearly $45 billion worth of residential damage and would affect almost 289,000 properties in the area. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could still cause area residents total property damage of close to $10 billion, impacting more than 59,000 homes.

Category 5 Exposure: $44,614,891,132

Hurricane Probability: Medium

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: High

Residential Density: High

#2: Miami-Dade/Palm Beach, Florida

The Miami to Palm Beach area is uniquely situated to be impacted from hurricanes traveling from three different directions. These would include a direct hit from the Atlantic Ocean, an indirect hit from a Gulf hurricane passing over the Florida Peninsula and, in the worst scenario, a coast parallel hurricane moving up the coast, directly impacting the entire metro region.

If a Category 5 hurricane hits the greater Miami area, the cost to property could be nearly $45 billion and would affect almost 247,000 properties in the area. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could cause area residents total property damage of more than $15.8 billion, impacting nearly 52,000 homes.

Category 5 Exposure: $44,916,737,587

Hurricane Probability: Extreme

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: High

Residential Density: Extreme

#1: Long Island, New York

There is a consensus among the scientific community that a Category 5 storm would not be sustainable off the coast of New York due to the cooler waters of the Atlantic. A Category 4 storm, however rare, is possible and would generate significant damage to the Long Island-area of New York if it made landfall.

The storm surge from a Category 4 hurricane slamming Long Island, which is home to some of New York State's wealthiest residences, could cause property damage of nearly $100 billion to residential properties. More than 250,000 properties could be exposed to the resulting storm surge. Even if the hurricane is only a Category 1 storm, it could cause Long Islanders total property damage of over $32.1B impacting nearly 74,000 residential properties.

Category 4 Exposure: $99,091,056,059

Hurricane Probability: Low

Storm-Surge Vulnerability: Medium

Residential Density: Extreme

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