The north Atlantic hurricane season begins Wednesday and lasts through Nov. 30. The U.S. Census Bureau produces timely local data that are critical to emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts. This information highlights the number of people living in areas that could be most affected by these dramatic acts of nature.
In the hurricane’s path
36.8 million
2010 Census population, as of April 1, 2010, most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes: the coastal portion of states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Approximately 12 percent of the nation’s population lives in these areas.
14 million
1960 coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Eight percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas at that time.
163 percent
Percentage growth of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas between 1960 and 2010.
179,015
Collective land area in square miles of the coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas.
12
The number of hurricanes during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, five of which were major hurricanes at Category 3-strength or higher. None of these storms made landfall in the U.S., though Alex made landfall just south of Texas in Mexico and Earl brushed the East Coast.
1950
The year the Weather Bureau officially began naming hurricanes.
Arlene
The name of the first Atlantic storm of 2011. Hurricane names rotate in a six-year cycle with the 2011 list being a repeat of the 2005 names. The World Meteorological Organization retired the names of four major hurricanes that made landfall in the United States during 2005: Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Stan, a Category 1 storm, was also retired after causing extensive loss of life in Central America. They have been replaced by Cindy, Franklin, Irene, Katia and Sean.
2005
In one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, 28 named storms formed, forcing use of the alternate Greek alphabet scheme for the first time. When the National Hurricane Center’s list of 21 approved names runs out for the year, hurricanes are named after Greek letters. Of the 28 named storms in 2005, 15 were hurricanes, with four storms reaching Category 5 status (Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma) and three more being considered major.
Top three states for hurricane impacts
Number of hurricanes making landfall 1851-2010
| State | Hurricanes | Major |
| Florida | 113 | 37 |
| Texas | 63 | 19 |
| Louisiana | 55 | 20 |
Preparing for emergencies using census data
The growth in population of coastal areas illustrates the importance of emergency planning and preparedness for areas that are more susceptible to inclement weather conditions. The U.S. Census Bureau’s official decennial census and population estimates, along with annually updated socioeconomic data from the American Community Survey, provide a detailed look at the nation’s growing coastal population. Emergency planners and community leaders can better assess the needs of coastal populations using census data.
Hurricane Andrew and Homestead
1992
Hurricane Andrew forms in the Atlantic Ocean and makes landfall in Florida on Aug. 24, destroying a large swath of South Florida, most notably the city of Homestead. Andrew later made landfall on the central Louisiana coast on Aug. 26 as a Category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Andrew was the second costliest tropical cyclone in U.S history and killed 23 in the U.S.
Category 5
The strength of Hurricane Andrew at landfall based on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds measured at 165 mph. Andrew was originally measured as a Category 4 storm but was later upgraded to Category 5 status in 2002 based on a reanalysis of wind speeds.
60,512
Population of Homestead, according to the 2010 Census taken April 1, 2010.
106 percent
Percentage growth of the population in Homestead between 1992 and 2010. The estimated 1992 population of Homestead was 29,431.
23,419
The total number of housing units in Homestead, Fla., according to the 2010 Census.
11.7 percent
Percent of people in Homestead with no motor vehicle access, according to the latest data available.
$220,400
Median home value of owner-occupied units in Homestead, according to the latest data available.
27.5 percent
The percent of people who live in poverty in Homestead, according to the latest data available.
Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans
2005
Hurricane Katrina makes landfall along the Louisiana coast on Aug. 29, leaving a devastating path of death and destruction in its wake as the city of New Orleans and surrounding region were inundated from the storm surge.
Hurricane Katrina was the costliest tropical cyclone in U.S history, with an estimated cost of $125 billion and killing 1,833 in the U.S.
Category 3
The strength of Hurricane Katrina at landfall based on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds measured at 125 mph. Katrina had strengthened significantly the day before, reaching Category 5 intensity.
343,829
Population of New Orleans, according to the 2010 Census taken April 1, 2010.
-25%
Percentage decline of the population in New Orleans, between 2005 and 2010. The estimated 2005 population of New Orleans was 455,188.
189,896
The total number of housing units in New Orleans, according to the 2010 Census.
18.2 percent
Percent of people in New Orleans, with no motor vehicle access, according to the latest data available.
$192,600
Median home value of owner-occupied units in New Orleans, according to the latest data available.
23.8 percent
The percent of people who live below poverty level in New Orleans, according to the latest data available.
Hurricane Ike and Galveston, Texas
2008
Hurricane Ike makes landfall at Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 13, laying total destruction to Galveston Island and adjacent coastline as the storm moves ashore with an immense wind field and storm surge due to its massive size, becoming the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. Hurricane Ike was the third costliest tropical cyclone in U.S history, killing 112 in the U.S.
Category 2
The strength of Hurricane Ike at landfall based on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds measured at 110 mph. Ike had reached Category 4 strength over the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
47,743
Population of Galveston, Texas, according to the 2010 Census taken April 1, 2010.
-16%
Percentage decline of the population in Galveston, Texas, between 2008 and 2010. The estimated 2008 population of Galveston was 57,039.
32,368
The total number of housing units in Galveston, Texas, according to the 2010 Census.
13.3 percent
Percent of people in Galveston, Texas, with no motor vehicle access, according to the latest data available.
$115,500
Median home value of owner-occupied units in Galveston, Texas, according to the latest data available.
22.6 percent
The percent of people who live in poverty in Galveston, Texas, according to the latest data available.