Homeowners Insurance
3 Million-Plus Americans Displaced by Natural Disasters in Past Year, With Louisiana Far Ahead of Other States
As climate change continues to reshape our world, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters is growing, posing a problem for many Americans. In fact, 1.4% of the U.S. population has been displaced by natural disasters in the past year.
Our newest study goes over where residents are most likely to be displaced — and how it's impacted their homes. Plus, stick around for expert tips on utilizing homeowners insurance to prepare for natural disasters.
On this page
- Key findings
- More than 3 million Americans have been displaced by natural disasters in the past year
- 7.5% of Louisiana residents have been displaced in the past year — a significantly higher rate than any other state
- More than 4 in 10 Americans displaced by disasters cited hurricanes as the cause
- Majority of displaced Americans say homes suffered moderate to severe damage
- Homeowners insurance and natural disasters: Top expert tips
- Methodology
Key findings
- Natural disasters have displaced more than 3 million Americans in the past year. That equates to 1.4% of the U.S. population.
- Louisiana has the highest percentage of residents displaced by natural disasters by far. In the past year through May 8, 195,318 Louisiana residents have been displaced by natural disasters, 7.5% of the state's population. Florida follows with 827,302 residents displaced, 5.6% of its population. Overall, 17 states had more than 1.0% of their population displaced by natural disasters in the past year.
- Hurricanes are the leading cause of displacement. 41.6% of Americans displaced by a natural disaster in the past year cited hurricanes. Floods were next at a distant 25.8%.
- Natural disasters are damaging for the majority of Americans displaced. Among residents displaced by a natural disaster in the past year, 53.4% say their homes suffered moderate to severe damage. Plus, 18.2% say they never returned to their homes.
More than 3 million Americans have been displaced by natural disasters in the past year
Americans are feeling the effects of climate change. In the past year, just more than 3 million Americans have been displaced by natural disasters — 1.4% of the U.S. population.
According to ValuePenguin home insurance expert Divya Sangameshwar, that figure's indicative of a growing problem.
"While we often hear about displacements from natural disasters, the 3 million number drives home the sheer scope and scale of the issue," she says. "It speaks to the growing impact of climate change and how it's making parts of the country increasingly unlivable."
The percentage of displaced Americans is particularly high among those with less than a high school degree (3.0%), those with Asian heritage (2.9%) and those making less than $25,000 annually (2.2%).
Why do these groups rank highest? First, those with lower levels of education and income tend to have lower socioeconomic status, according to research. Separate research shows these individuals are more vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters, as they often live in high-risk areas and have less access to information and resources for disaster preparedness and response.
As for the Asian population, the income divide within this group has grown significantly in recent years, making it the most economically divided racial group in the U.S., according to Pew Research Center — indicating that many may be wrestling with the same natural disaster risks as other Americans with lower socioeconomic status.
7.5% of Louisiana residents have been displaced in the past year — a significantly higher rate than any other state
By state, Louisiana has the highest percentage of residents displaced by natural disasters — and it isn't close. Over the past year, 195,318 Louisiana residents have been displaced by natural disasters, or 7.5% of the state's population.
States with the highest percentages of residents displaced by a natural disaster
Rank | State | Total population | Number of displaced residents | % of residents displaced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 3,394,886 | 195,318 | 7.5% |
| 2 | Florida | 17,896,443 | 827,302 | 5.6% |
| 3 | Kentucky | 3,405,196 | 77,043 | 2.6% |
| 4 | Alaska | 530,263 | 11,926 | 2.5% |
| 5 | Michigan | 7,735,119 | 141,337 | 2.2% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 1,622,106 | 27,921 | 2.0% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,173,482 | 35,220 | 1.9% |
| 7 | California | 29,670,532 | 476,447 | 1.9% |
| 7 | Maryland | 4,704,806 | 74,184 | 1.9% |
| 10 | Idaho | 1,463,645 | 22,480 | 1.8% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data from April 26 through May 8, 2023.
Following Louisiana, 827,302 residents in Florida have been displaced by disasters in the past year — a distant 5.6% of the state's population.
Both states are prone to hurricanes and floods. In fact, according to another ValuePenguin study on severe weather damages, both ranked among the top three with the highest amount of weather-related property damages from 2017 to 2021. A separate ValuePenguin study on flood risk found that Louisiana and Florida are among the five states with the highest percentage of properties at risk of flooding in two different risk models.
In the past year, both states experienced several natural disasters. While Louisiana had a quiet hurricane season in 2022, the state had a slew of tornadoes in December. Meanwhile, Florida was hit by Hurricane Ian — a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in September 2022 — which killed more than 150 Floridians and caused an estimated $115 billion in losses across the U.S. That's third for U.S. hurricanes behind Katrina (2005, $192.5 billion) and Harvey (2017, $152.5 billion).
Generally, though, the majority of the U.S. isn't at risk of displacement. In the past year, just 17 states had more than 1.0% of their population displaced by natural disasters.
Full rankings: States with the highest/lowest percentages of residents displaced by a natural disaster
Rank | State | Total population | Number of displaced residents | % of residents displaced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 3,394,886 | 195,318 | 7.5% |
| 2 | Florida | 17,896,443 | 827,302 | 5.6% |
| 3 | Kentucky | 3,405,196 | 77,043 | 2.6% |
| 4 | Alaska | 530,263 | 11,926 | 2.5% |
| 5 | Michigan | 7,735,119 | 141,337 | 2.2% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 1,622,106 | 27,921 | 2.0% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,173,482 | 35,220 | 1.9% |
| 7 | California | 29,670,532 | 476,447 | 1.9% |
| 7 | Maryland | 4,704,806 | 74,184 | 1.9% |
| 10 | Idaho | 1,463,645 | 22,480 | 1.8% |
| 11 | Oregon | 3,315,259 | 49,948 | 1.7% |
| 11 | Arkansas | 2,290,513 | 30,055 | 1.7% |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data from April 26 through May 8, 2023.
More than 4 in 10 Americans displaced by disasters cited hurricanes as the cause
Given which states rank highest for the percentage of residents displaced by a natural disaster, it may be unsurprising that hurricanes are the leading cause of displacement. In the past year, 41.6% of Americans displaced by a natural disaster said hurricanes were the cause.
That may be because hurricanes have a wide-reaching impact on coastal and inland areas, affecting 94.7 million people who live in these regions, according to a 2019 report from the U.S. Census Bureau. That's 29.1% of the total U.S. population.
Displacement in the past year by natural disaster type
Natural disaster | Number of Americans displaced | % of total Americans displaced by a natural disaster |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 1,238,886 | 41.6% |
| Flood | 769,333 | 25.8% |
| Fire | 684,763 | 23.0% |
| Tornado | 312,465 | 10.5% |
| Other | 641,665 | 21.6% |
| Didn't report | 30,231 | N/A |
Source: ValuePenguin analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data from April 26 through May 8, 2023. Note: Respondents could select all natural disasters that applied.
Floods were next, at a distant 25.8%. Floods may rank second-highest because they're a widespread disaster, affecting virtually all regions of the U.S. In addition, climate change has been exacerbating flood risks — meaning many Americans are increasingly likely to be displaced due to floods.
Majority of displaced Americans say homes suffered moderate to severe damage
For many displaced Americans, natural disasters are incredibly disruptive. In fact, 53.4% of those displaced in the past year say their homes suffered moderate to severe damage.
Among key demographics, those with Asian heritage (88.8%) and those with five or more household members (67.3%) are more likely to report moderate to severe damage to their homes — likely due to the same socioeconomic factors mentioned above. In addition, 66.6% of Americans ages 55 to 64 report similar damage — higher than any other age group.
Overall, 18.2% of those displaced by a natural disaster say they've never returned home.
"Part of the reason why so many displaced homeowners haven't been able to return home after so long is the complexity of the insurance claims process," Sangameshwar says. "In the aftermath of a disaster, delays in claim handling, denials of claims and unsatisfactory settlement offers become increasingly common. Paying five- or six-figure repair costs out of pocket isn't something many Americans can afford, and this contributes to them staying displaced for longer or permanently."
Although 50.6% of men and 55.9% of women displaced in the past year report moderate to severe damage to their homes, a significantly higher percentage of men haven't returned home than women — 27.9% versus 9.3%, respectively. In addition, those who didn't complete high school (52.2%) are significantly more likely to say they never returned home than any other education level group. In comparison, 8.7% of those with a bachelor's degree or higher and 8.2% with some college say similarly.
Homeowners insurance and natural disasters: Top expert tips
When a natural disaster occurs, insurance may be the last thing on people’s minds — but it can play a pivotal role in recovery efforts. Sangameshwar says Americans should do the following to prepare for a natural disaster:
- Ideally, every homeowner should have a plan in place for natural disasters. That includes running evacuation drills with family and pets, securing important documents in a fireproof and waterproof box, and keeping emergency supplies like a generator, water, radio, first aid kit and other rations.
- Don't forget about insurance. "The one thing many homeowners forget to include in their natural disaster prep is insurance," Sangameshwar says. "This is more than just securing your insurance documentation. It also includes a regular review of your homeowners insurance policy and its list of covered perils and exclusions, adjusting your insurance coverage to reflect the current value of your home and belongings, getting additional coverage for perils that may not be covered and a detailed inventory of your homes before disaster hits. It also includes fixing any wear and tear or damages from a previous disaster."
- In a natural disaster, file a claim as soon as possible. "You can work closely with your agent and insurer to get a timely and fair resolution to your claims," she says. "You can hire your own appraiser or public insurance adjuster to get an independent estimate for the damage you're trying to repair to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer. You can also complain to the state insurance commissioner, who'll help you compromise a settlement with the insurer in case of an unsatisfactory claim, overturn the insurer's position in case of a denied claim or settle your claim in the case of a delayed claim."
Methodology
To estimate the percentage of Americans displaced from their homes due to natural disasters in the past year, ValuePenguin researchers analyzed U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data from April 26 through May 8, 2023 — the latest available at the time of research.
Specifically, researchers estimated the percentage of Americans displaced by natural disasters in every state, ranking them from highest to lowest. Researchers also analyzed how long people had been displaced and the amount of damage suffered to homes.