Home

Hurricane Season Poses Risk to 35 Million+ Residents in Coastal U.S. Cities

In many parts of the country, June signals flowers blooming and school books closing. But for residents of the North Atlantic region, June 1 marks the first day of hurricane season.   In its Facts for Figures release, the U.S. Census Bureau highlights the following statistics:

• Using July 2008 population figures, approximately 35.7 million people - or 12 percent of the U.S. residents - live in the coastal areas of states stretching from North Carolina to Texas, areas most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes.
• Three of the nation’s 20 most populous metro areas were within Atlantic or Gulf coastal areas between Texas and North Carolina. These include: Houston-Sugarland-Baytown, Texas (sixth); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida (seventh); and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida (20^th).
• Eight hurricanes struck during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Five of these were Category 3 strength or higher, according to the National Hurricane Center.
• The population of New Orleans, Louisiana on July 1, 2005 (about two months before Hurricane Katrina struck) was estimated at around 455,000 residents. Three years later, on July 1, 2008, New Orleans’ population was estimated at roughly 312,000 residents.

Copyright © 2009, MuniNet Guide