The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has been quiet so far. Colorado State University even recently lowered its expectations for the season from 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes to 11 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes. However, despite expectations of a lower-key year for these storms, there are still millions of homes in the U.S.at high risk of wind damage and storm surge should a hurricane make landfall.
Over $12.26 trillion in reconstruction cost value (RCV) is at moderate or higher risk of damage from hurricane winds, with $2.1 trillion at risk from storm surge, according to data from Cotality's 2026 Hurricane Season report. In total, about 32.2 million homes across 20 states face this level of risk from hurricane winds, and 6 million homes are at moderate or higher risk of storm surge.
The states Cotality found to have the highest exposure to storm surge damage are:
- Florida: 2,471,415 homes with moderate or higher risk
- Louisiana: 776,263 homes with moderate or higher risk
- Texas: 445,198 homes with moderate or higher risk
- New York: 418,430 homes with moderate or higher risk
- South Carolina: 379,534 homes with moderate or higher risk
New York City tops the list of metro areas with the highest number of homes and RCV at risk from both hurricane winds and storm surge. Houston, Miami, Philadelphia and Boston round out the top five metro areas with the most hurricane wind damage risk, while Miami, Tampa, New Orleans and Cape Coral, Florida, all join New York at the top of the rankings for metro areas with the most storm surge risk exposure.
In the slideshow above, we look at the five states with the highest exposure to hurricane-related wind damage according to Cotality.
(Photo credit: Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock)
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