Best States for Disaster Preparedness

The U.S. experienced the most billion-dollar disasters in its recorded history during 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Despite the need for preparation, the latest data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicates that only 45% of adults believe they are prepared for a natural disaster, and 42% plan on preparing but have not taken action yet.

In order to highlight the states that understand the importance of disaster preparedness and the ones that need to improve, SmileHub compared the 50 states across 14 key metrics. The data set ranges from fire and police stations per capita to the presence of an enhanced disaster mitigation plan to the community resilience score.

If you want to support disaster preparation and relief but don’t know where to donate, check out our picks for the Best Charities for Disaster Relief in 2024.

• Main Findings
• Methodology

Main Findings

Most Disaster-Ready States

Overall Rank*	State	Total Score	Resilience Infrastructure & Support Capacity Rank	Disaster Prevention Planning & Funding Rank	Disaster Risk & Lasting Damage Rank
1	Massachusetts	57.19	2	20	4
2	Vermont	56.07	6	9	5
3	Hawaii	54.83	26	2	11
4	North Dakota	53.63	5	5	28
5	Pennsylvania	52.07	1	23	20
6	Rhode Island	51.24	10	22	6
7	Alaska	50.87	15	11	15
8	Washington	48.27	36	16	8
9	South Dakota	47.80	18	6	34
10	Wisconsin	47.57	20	21	10
11	Minnesota	47.20	4	39	13
12	Delaware	47.00	7	38	9
13	West Virginia	46.46	16	18	19
14	Maine	46.11	39	25	1
15	New Hampshire	46.08	17	41	3
16	Ohio	45.39	11	26	17
17	New York	45.22	3	27	29
18	Maryland	45.20	8	31	18
19	California	45.14	41	7	24
20	Iowa	44.05	34	4	38
21	Oregon	43.97	24	24	14
22	North Carolina	43.75	12	12	45
23	Connecticut	43.46	19	40	12
24	Colorado	43.36	27	15	31
25	Utah	42.31	28	47	2
26	Kentucky	42.14	32	13	33
27	Nebraska	40.82	38	10	37
28	Virginia	40.28	9	36	32
29	Idaho	40.28	29	37	16
30	Florida	39.34	46	1	48
31	New Jersey	39.07	13	45	23
32	Missouri	38.68	37	17	40
33	Michigan	38.18	33	48	7
34	Georgia	38.02	44	8	43
35	Louisiana	37.72	45	3	47
36	Wyoming	36.71	21	43	27
37	Montana	36.43	30	30	35
38	Oklahoma	35.26	14	28	46
39	Arkansas	34.59	42	19	42
40	Illinois	34.46	25	46	30
41	Alabama	33.73	23	33	44
42	Texas	33.72	31	14	50
43	Indiana	33.63	22	50	25
44	New Mexico	33.33	50	32	26
45	Kansas	32.15	35	35	41
46	South Carolina	31.50	47	34	36
47	Nevada	31.43	49	44	22
48	Tennessee	30.98	40	42	39
49	Arizona	30.01	48	49	21
50	Mississippi	26.56	43	29	49

Notes: *No. 1 = Best

With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

 

Methodology

In order to determine the best states for disaster preparedness, SmileHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Resilience Infrastructure & Support Capacity, 2) Disaster Prevention Planning & Funding and 3) Disaster Risk & Lasting Damage.

We evaluated those dimensions using 14 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of disaster preparedness. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for population differences across states.

We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

Resilience Infrastructure & Support Capacity – Total Points: 40

• Disaster Relief Charities per Capita*: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
• Physicians per Capita: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
• Mental Health Counselors per Capita: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
• National Guard Members per Capita: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
• Medical Reserve Corps Members per Capita: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
• Fire/Police Stations per Capita*: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
• Access to a Computer or Smartphone: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
  Note: This composed metric includes the share of households with access to a computer and the share of adults owning a smartphone.

Disaster Prevention Planning & Funding – Total Points: 35

• Emergency Management Budget per Capita: Double Weight (~14.00 Points)
• Presence of an Enhanced Disaster Mitigation Plan: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
  Note: As of June 30, 2023, 15 states earned Federal Emergency Management Agency approval for their enhanced state mitigation plan. These states are now eligible to receive more funds under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program following a disaster declaration. To receive approval of an enhanced plan, a state must show that it has developed a comprehensive mitigation program and is capable of managing increased funding for its mitigation goals.
  
  • 0 = no disaster mitigation plan
  • 0.5 = accepted disaster mitigation plan
  • 1 = accepted enhanced disaster mitigation plan
• Public Health Funding per Capita: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
  Note: This metric represents state dollars dedicated to public health per person (including federal grants directed to states from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources & Services Administration).
• National Health Security Preparedness Index: Full Weight (~7.00 Points)
  Note: The index considers six gauges of preparedness: Health security surveillance, community planning and engagement, information and incident management, health-care delivery, countermeasure management, and environmental and occupational health.

Disaster Risk & Lasting Damage – Total Points: 25

• Community Resilience Score: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
  Note: Community resilience is the ability of a community to prepare for anticipated natural hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions. A higher community resilience score results in a lower overall risk index.
• Number of Climate Disasters Causing $1 Billion+ in Damage (1980-2024): Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
• Loss Amount From Climate Disasters Causing $1 Billion+ in Damage per Capita (1980-2024): Full Weight (~8.33 Points)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Defense Defense Manpower Data Center, U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Fire Administration, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Esri, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United Health Foundation, National Health Security Preparedness Index and National Centers for Environmental Information.