Mother Nature can be unpredictable, but which cities are least at risk or most prepared to mitigate natural disasters?
Following a year of 2 dozen billion-dollar natural disasters impacting the U.S., Home Gnome ranked 2025’s Safest Cities from Natural Disasters.
We compared 477 of the biggest U.S. cities based on 5 categories. More specifically, we looked at each city’s overall risk across 18 natural hazards according to FEMA’s National Risk Index. We also considered average insurance rates and access to disaster response resources like EMTs, fire stations, and hospitals, among 21 total metrics.
Evaluate your city’s risk and readiness below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology.
In This Article
- Quick Stats
- The Leaderboard
- The Safest Cities from Natural Disasters
- The Least Safe Cities from Natural Disasters
- Professional Take
- Behind the Ranking
- Weatherproofing Your Home for Resilience
Quick Stats
- Virginia cities — Lynchburg (No. 1), Roanoke (No. 2), and Alexandria (No. 4) — have low natural hazards risks and ideal assets for responding to and recovering when catastrophe calls. However, even the “safest” cities have some risk of experiencing natural disasters. Central Virginia is no stranger to tornado watches, derechos, or flooding from hurricanes.
- Over half of the 20 safest cities in our ranking have a population below 100,000. Some smaller cities are better equipped to allocate resources evenly and face lower financial risk when faced with extreme weather. Pittsburgh (No. 8) is the most populated city near the top and boasts the most fire stations — 1.57 per square mile — out of the cities in our ranking.
- FEMA’s National Risk Index is based on historical data and can underestimate a region’s risk in our changing climate. For example, Asheville, North Carolina (No. 115), was devastated in 2024 following Hurricane Helene, one of the deadliest storms in modern U.S. history.
- This mountainous, inland city has a low hazard risk, meaning disastrous storms aren’t so common in Asheville. However, over 1/2 of homes in the city were built before 1980 and 4% of residences are mobile homes, indicating high homeowner vulnerability in extreme weather events.
The Leaderboard
See how each city fared in our ranking:
The Safest Cities from Natural Disasters
Lowest Natural Hazards Risk Score: 44.13 | Rank: 1
Population Density: 1,616 Residents per Square Mile | Rank: 68
Share of Population Aged 65+ Living Alone: 27.92% | Rank: 213
Uninsured Rate: 6.9% | Rank: 166
Share of Mobile Homes: 1.13% | Rank: 202
Photo Credit: Johnadamsz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Lowest Natural Hazards Risk Score: 45.94 | Rank: 3
Population Density: 2,333 Residents per Square Mile | Rank: 147
Share of Population Aged 65+ Living Alone: 28.72% | Rank: 236
Share of Mobile Homes: 0.74% | Rank: 150
EMTs per 100,000 Residents: 133 | Rank: 19
Photo Credit: Vladsinger / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Lowest Natural Hazards Risk Score: 70.82 | Rank: 19
Population Density: 1,234 Residents per Square Mile | Rank: 30
Share of Population Aged 65+ Living Alone: 14.32% | Rank: 6
Share of Population Aged 5 or Younger: 4.87% | Rank: 69
Share of Households with No Car: 4.16% | Rank: 96
Photo Credit: AuburnPilot / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Lowest Natural Hazards Risk Score: 69.84 | Rank: 18
Share of Population Aged 65+ Living Alone: 19.75% | Rank: 46
Uninsured Rate: 8.8% | Rank: 262
Share of Mobile Homes: 0.02% | Rank: 5
Fire Stations per Square Mile: 1 | Rank: 11
Photo Credit: Ifly6 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Lowest Natural Hazards Risk Score: 44.72 | Rank: 2
Population Density: 628 Residents per Square Mile | Rank: 5
Share of Population Aged 65+ Living Alone: 30.97% | Rank: 301
Uninsured Rate: 13.9% | Rank: 407
EMTs per 100,000 Residents: 141 | Rank: 15
Photo Credit: Marcus Jones / Adobe Stock / License
- Nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg, Virginia (No. 1), faces the lowest natural hazards risk out of the cities in our ranking — followed by Macon, Georgia (No. 5), and Roanoke, Virginia (No. 2).
- 3 California cities — San Diego (No. 122), Sacramento (No. 71), and San Francisco (No. 30) — have the most zero-energy buildings. Zero-energy designs can help increase disaster resilience thanks to renewable energy sources and storage banks.
- California is known for dealing with extreme weather; FEMA designates almost all Golden State cities in our ranking as having a high hazard risk. However, places like earthquake-prone San Francisco (No. 30) and Berkeley (No. 84) are more prepared to respond to emergencies with better access to hospitals, urgent care clinics, and fire stations.
Read more below.
The Least Safe Cities from Natural Disasters
- Texas has experienced 179 billion-dollar natural disasters since 1980, the most of any U.S. state. Some regions are at higher risk, like coastal Pasadena (No. 456) and tornado, hail, and drought-prone Arlington (No. 343). The Lone Star State also has had the most weather-related power outages, 210 between 2000 and 2023.
- Florida is known for both sunshine and hurricanes, but some cities are more prepared to weather the storm(s) than others. Miami (No. 43) has a high natural hazard risk but has the resources to respond to crises with the most hospitals per square mile. The city also has abundant hospital beds per 100,000 residents, fire stations, and urgent care clinics.
- Low Risk, Low Resilience: Some cities like Laredo, Texas (No. 185), Scranton, Pennsylvania (No. 189), and Pueblo, Colorado (No. 310), have fewer natural hazards to worry about. However, these cities fall behind due to having vulnerable communities with older populations and higher percentages of residents with a disability. They also face a lack of infrastructural resilience in the event of an environmental catastrophe.
Read more below.
Professional Take
No place is immune to Mother Nature. Since 1980, every U.S. state has been hit by a severe weather event costing around or more than a billion dollars.
We turned to a panel of experts to learn more about emergency preparedness and tips for recovering after the storm has passed. Discover their insights below.
- How can residents create an effective emergency evacuation plan, and what 2 additional proactive measures should they take to prepare for natural disasters?
- What items are often overlooked but crucial in a disaster preparedness kit?
- What are your top 3 tips for residents to secure their homes against natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods?
- Following a natural disaster, what are the top 3 essential actions that victims should take?
- What training or community outreach programs could boost public awareness and action on disaster preparedness?
How can residents create an effective emergency evacuation plan, and what two additional proactive measures should they take to prepare for natural disasters?
Know which potential threats you and your home are susceptible to, and plan accordingly.
Given it is hurricane season in North Carolina and that has historically caused the most damage, I’ll lean into that type of prep more.
1. Plan evacuation routes — multiple options would be great.
2. Make sure you have a way of getting in contact with your support system to ensure everyone’s safety.
What items are often overlooked but crucial in a disaster preparedness kit?
- Assemble disaster supply kits with enough essential items for each member of your family for at least three days.
- Check the batteries on everything you put in that kit when a disaster is approaching.
- Protect important documents and take them with you if you evacuate.
- Plan for your pets also — food, medicine, a leash, or a carrier to keep them safe.
What are your top three tips for residents to secure their homes against natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods?
1. Again, know your home’s weak points. Is your home in a flood zone? Reinforce any weak points, perhaps this means adding hurricane clips to your roof joists.
2. You should always secure loose items that may get lost or worse cause more damage.
3. Finally, if you’re able to get insurance for disasters that you’re likely to encounter is a good option to look at.
Following a natural disaster, what are the top three essential actions that victims should take?
1. Get in contact with your support network.
2. Assess damages, with photos if you’re able.
3. There may be assistance available to you so be ready to apply for disaster assistance, through either federal, state, local, or non-profit entities. If uninsured or underinsured, apply for FEMA individual disaster assistance once declared. Contact relief organizations for further help meeting immediate needs until insurance payments or federal aid arrives.
What training or community outreach programs could boost public awareness and action on disaster preparedness?
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training may be a positive educational avenue to pursue. Adding some basic information to school curriculums is always positive, and community alert systems with inclusive and multilingual messaging are crucial. Social media can be a very positive tool if utilized correctly.
How can residents create an effective emergency evacuation plan, and what two additional proactive measures should they take to prepare for natural disasters?
The practical side of preparing an effective emergency plan is to inform the participants of what exactly your expectations are and where to meet first in order to follow through with a plan. For example, if a hurricane is expected, an announcement of at least 96 hours of an impending threat will be made by local, state, and federal authorities.
Prior to that, residents should already know the timing, direction, and means to evacuate. Some may desire to move on their own or follow designated highway evacuation routes. By anticipating the flow of traffic and the movement of other citizens, an evacuation plan can be useful. This may require an assessment of secondary routes and local news will point out where bottlenecks may be ready to occur should contraflow be activated.
1. For other natural disasters, families should have a rally point where they can meet once the event is over, such as a twister. Knowing what to do ahead can be vital for accounting for the whereabouts of such family members. Make sure that neighbors and family members outside the event area have knowledge of your intentions and when they should expect a call once you move on — and be sure to take your phone charger.
2. Make sure you have plenty of gas ahead of the event. Also, as automated teller machines will be offline due to no electricity, plan on getting as much money as you may need to survive for two weeks.
What items are often overlooked but crucial in a disaster preparedness kit?
A flyaway container like a sturdy hard plastic box and lid is a great way to have everything located in one place. As each natural disaster is anticipated, you can be sure to include enough items to sustain you for two weeks.
This may include:
- Money to survive on (mentioned above).
- Medicines.
- A first aid kit.
- Gun and/or knife for protection or cutting things.
- Survival gear, including water purification tablets, a shovel, waterproof matches, and water.
- A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio should also be in the preparedness kit in order to ascertain where the event is and where mid-course corrections to your plans may be necessary.
What are your top three tips for residents to secure their homes against natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods?
1. Be sure to have your home alarm on to track movement outside your home.
2. Be sure to have sandbags, if available, to divert the flow of water in low places where it may find its way inside the house.
3. If you can afford one, get a portable generator or buy a generator to supply you with electricity until the power company can return your home to the power grid.
Following a natural disaster, what are the top three essential actions that victims should take?
1. Ensure that family and neighbors are safe and gather information on safety issues such as structural damage, downed wires, or breaks in natural gas lines that may be in contact with nearby fires.
2. Look to see who in your area needs assistance, including first aid.
3. Be sure to have access to bottled water and non-perishable food to survive on if gas or electricity is cut off. However, having a camping stove would be of major benefit during this time.
What training or community outreach programs could boost public awareness and action on disaster preparedness?
The American Red Cross can be helpful to assist in training citizens on how to prepare for potential threats. By knowing how citizens can assist their neighbors, the American Red Cross can meet expectations on how to teach first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR, and planning for natural disasters.
In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency supports the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program which is designed to train and educate volunteers in emergency preparedness. The fields of training are tailored for those expected hazards. CERT training includes basic disaster response skills, such as safety, light search and rescue, and team development.
Expert bio: Dr. Eduardo Martinez is a Senior Instructor at Angelo State University involved in Intelligence and Security Studies. Prior to this, he was a Crisis Manager for the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau in the Agency for International Development. Following that, he served in the US Navy for 30 years reaching the rank of Captain. During that time, he served four Commanding Officer tours and was a Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer where he participated in relief efforts involving tornadoes, and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma, and Gustav. In 2010, he was the Navy’s representative as a Liaison Officer for Fleet Forces Command at the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Dr. Martinez still contributes articles on transportation security and legal aspects of homeland security.
Behind the Ranking
First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Safest Cities from Natural Disasters. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 5 categories:
- Hazards Risk
- Vulnerable Populations
- Vulnerable Infrastructure
- Response and Recovery
- Evacuation Transport
The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
For each of the 500 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table. We eliminated 23 cities, resulting in a final sample size of 477 cities.
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 477).
Notes:
- The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 477 due to ties.
- Los Angeles, neighboring cities, and their suburbs were removed from this ranking due to the recent devastating wildfires.
- Cities removed include: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Glendale, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Orange, Oxnard, Pasadena, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, and West Covina.
Sources: Airport Data and Information Portal, American Hospital Directory, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Health Resources & Services Administration, Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data, Marinas.com, New Buildings Institute, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, World Port Source, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
Weatherproofing Your Home For Resilience
Weather prediction is getting increasingly complicated thanks to climate change.
Studies show Tornado Alley is shifting, with storms becoming more prevalent in Eastern states like Kentucky and Tennessee. Wildfires are becoming more frequent in the Northeast — igniting outside the typical wildfire season and engulfing larger regions on average.
Following the Los Angeles fires, California will be designating 1.4 million more acres as fire-prone and will require some homeowners to adopt fire-resistant landscaping like clearing flammable materials within 5 feet of their residences.
The ocean is rising and so are insurance rates for many U.S. homeowners. Between 2020 and 2023, average home insurance premiums increased by 13%. Some major insurance companies are reducing coverage or completely withdrawing from risky areas and canceling policies for homeowners, notably in California and Florida.
Meanwhile, a Harvard report suggests that average spending on home repairs from natural disasters has almost doubled since the 2000s.
Boost your disaster preparedness and upgrade your home’s storm resistance ahead of time with help from our tips below.
- Have an evacuation plan and backup supplies ready for your family and pets in case of an emergency.
- Invest in impact-resistant roofing materials to protect your home from hail and hurricane damage.
- Weatherproof your windows.
- Adopt renewable energy sources like solar power, which can help keep people safe during a storm.
- Make sure to replace storm windows if they’ve been damaged.
- Schedule a roof repair if you notice damage following a storm.
Research shows that weather caused 80% of major power outages between 2000 and 2023. During extreme weather, backup generators can be a deadly source of carbon monoxide.
You don’t have to live off the grid to increase your home’s energy security. So far, over 4 million homes in the U.S. have adopted solar panels. Last year, FEMA pledged to reimburse local governments for post-disaster net-zero energy upgrades, like solar installations and energy-efficient appliances.
When disaster strikes (or for routine jobs around your house) Home Gnome is where you’ll find all sorts of DIY and professional help for projects around your house, rental, or apartment.
Media Resources
Quotes from Home Gnome Editor-in-Chief Jeff Herman
- Rochester, Minnesota (No. 9) — home of the Mayo Clinic — has the most EMTs per 100,000 residents — 385 — followed by Colorado cities Loveland (No. 190) and Fort Collins (No. 57).
- Suffolk, Virginia (No. 66), claims the 2nd-lowest population density in our ranking after Anchorage, Alaska (No. 258).
- In 2024, Texas (and part of Oklahoma) faced the nation’s 2nd-largest documented wildfire, northeast of Amarillo (No. 334). The blaze scorched over 1 million acres in nearly 3 weeks.
- Ann Arbor, Michigan (No. 14), scores near the top — far apart from its Mitten State neighbors. This college town has a less vulnerable population, with fewer residents ages 65+ and living alone as well as few kids aged 5 or younger. Ann Arbor also has the most hospital beds available per 100,000 residents when compared to other Michigan cities.
- 10 Texas cities, including Brownsville (No. 447), Laredo (No. 185), and Houston (No. 240), have among the lowest rates of residents with health insurance. Pharr (No. 473) has the fewest insured residents with 32.1% lacking coverage.
- Independence (No. 463) is the only Missouri city scoring in the riskier half of our ranking. With an average Natural Hazards Risk (No. 250 for this metric), the city’s risk is exacerbated with 36% of residents ages 65+ living on their own, 16% of residents with a disability, and less access to medical care.
- Fewer residents of major cities like New York (No. 299), Washington (No. 217), and Boston (No. 38) have access to a personal vehicle, making it more difficult to pack up and leave when given notice ahead of a massive storm like a hurricane. Over half of Big Apple households do not have access to a car.
Main Photo Credit: yarohork / Adobe Stock / License
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