The deadliest states for natural disasters
Natural-hazard deaths recorded since 1996, 50 states and DC
Arizona has recorded the most deaths from natural hazards since 1996 (3,111), followed by Texas (1,992) and California (1,316). Per million residents, Arizona (435.4) and Nevada lead.
The top 15
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to June 30, 2026; population: FEMA National Risk Index county table. Open the source.
Every row, ranked
| Rank | Name | Deaths since 1996 | Per million residents | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 3,111 | 435.4 | 1,262 |
| 2 | Texas | 1,992 | 68.5 | 17,393 |
| 3 | California | 1,316 | 33.3 | 4,799 |
| 4 | Florida | 1,305 | 60.7 | 3,883 |
| 5 | Louisiana | 1,189 | 255.6 | 1,337 |
| 6 | Nevada | 985 | 317.9 | 1,110 |
| 7 | Illinois | 978 | 76.4 | 2,529 |
| 8 | Missouri | 851 | 138.4 | 10,409 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 805 | 62.0 | 2,595 |
| 10 | Alabama | 697 | 139.0 | 4,978 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 633 | 60.7 | 1,947 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 620 | 89.8 | 3,190 |
| 13 | New York | 609 | 30.2 | 1,520 |
| 14 | Mississippi | 538 | 182.2 | 2,457 |
| 15 | Kentucky | 489 | 108.6 | 2,295 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 482 | 121.9 | 5,073 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 457 | 77.6 | 1,908 |
| 18 | Oregon | 410 | 96.9 | 365 |
| 19 | Arkansas | 378 | 125.7 | 3,057 |
| 20 | Indiana | 350 | 51.6 | 1,442 |
| 21 | Georgia | 341 | 31.9 | 2,499 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 338 | 36.4 | 2,681 |
| 23 | Washington | 326 | 42.3 | 958 |
| 24 | Colorado | 319 | 55.3 | 1,661 |
| 25 | South Carolina | 284 | 55.6 | 957 |
| 26 | Kansas | 267 | 90.9 | 1,694 |
| 27 | Ohio | 267 | 22.6 | 1,483 |
| 28 | Utah | 257 | 78.6 | 1,874 |
| 29 | Maryland | 236 | 38.2 | 1,474 |
| 30 | Michigan | 234 | 23.2 | 1,975 |
| 31 | Virginia | 220 | 25.5 | 1,274 |
| 32 | Minnesota | 208 | 36.5 | 1,090 |
| 33 | New Mexico | 185 | 87.6 | 607 |
| 34 | Hawaii | 178 | 122.6 | 195 |
| 35 | Montana | 162 | 149.7 | 376 |
| 36 | Iowa | 152 | 47.7 | 1,540 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 147 | 82.1 | 208 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 131 | 148.0 | 703 |
| 39 | Nebraska | 130 | 66.3 | 757 |
| 40 | Idaho | 126 | 68.6 | 362 |
| 41 | Wyoming | 114 | 197.9 | 529 |
| 42 | Alaska | 100 | 136.7 | 133 |
| 43 | North Dakota | 77 | 98.9 | 371 |
| 44 | Connecticut | 62 | 17.2 | 231 |
| 45 | Vermont | 60 | 93.4 | 60 |
| 46 | Massachusetts | 59 | 8.4 | 664 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | 41 | 29.8 | 237 |
| 48 | Maine | 40 | 29.4 | 212 |
| 49 | Delaware | 38 | 38.4 | 804 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 20 | 18.2 | 42 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 16 | 23.2 | 380 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to June 30, 2026; population: FEMA National Risk Index county table.
How this ranking is measured
Deaths direct and indirect as the National Weather Service filed them in NOAA's Storm Events Database, from 1996 (the first year every event type was recorded) to the newest record. Heat deaths make up a large share in several states; the hazard pages break each state's deaths down by hazard.