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Potential Disasters by U.S. Region and State

Some disasters, like floods, extreme heat, and thunderstorms, can occur anywhere. Others, like earthquakes and hurricanes, are more common in certain parts of the country. Following is a breakdown of the regions and their respective states of the United States and the potential disasters they have historically faced:

West (Pacific) Region

Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington
  • Earthquakes – All West (Pacific) states
  • Wildfires- All West (Pacific) states
  • Volcanoes – Hawaii
  • Tsunamis – all West (Pacific) states
  • Landslides – All West (Pacific) states

West (Mountain) Region

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming

  • Earthquakes – all West (Mountain) states
  • Wildfires – all West (Mountain) states
  • Winter Storms – all West (Mountain) states

Midwest Region

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin 

  • Earthquakes – Illinois, Missouri
  • Tornadoes – all Midwest states
  • Wildfires – North Dakota, South Dakota
  • Winter Storms – all Midwest states

South and Southeastern Region

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

  • Earthquakes – Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina
  • Tornadoes – all South and Southeastern states
  • Landslides – Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia
  • Hurricanes – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina
  • Winter Storms – all South and Southeastern states

Mid-Atlantic Region

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC

  • Hurricanes – Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Washington, DC
  • Winter Storms – all Mid-Atlantic states

New England Region

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

  • Hurricanes – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont
  • Winter Storms – all New England States