6.5 million homes threatened by storm surges

 

Given that beachfront homes are among the most valuable properties along the coasts and also in the front line of incoming storms, the costs associated with these floods are also high.

5 States with the highest potential reconstruction costsSource: analysis of surge storm CoreLogic 2014

Flooding caused by storm surges represent a collective $1.5 trillion in potential costs of reconstruction, said the CoreLogic.

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When tropical storms strengthen, their winds and low pressure causes collect water. The water body may hit the coast and the surge on the lowlands.

Even when hurricanes are not in the highest category, storm surges occur, warns Thomas Jeffrey, a scientist of high risk for CoreLogic.

Related: Wilder weather, small losses in 2013

The forecasts for this season are for a little less thunderstorm activity than normal.

"But the early arrival of Hurricane Arthur July 3 is an important reminder that even a hurricane of category-low or strong tropical storm can create powerful riptides, the modest floods and causes significant destruction of property," he said.

Superstorm Sandy is an excellent example. At the time wherever it struck the coast of the Atlantic in 2012, it did not meet even the definition strict of a hurricane, but all managed to make an estimated $68 billion in damage from the wave of water, that it caused along the coast line. Only Katrina, the natural disaster in American history, are more expensive.

Related: What natural disaster is likely to destroy your House?

There are 19 States in the paths of storms in the Atlantic and the Gulf.

Densely populated Florida, with its altitude shallow, is most at risk. There are 2.5 million homes that could be hit with a cost of potential damages of almost $500 billion.

 

Other vulnerable States are Louisiana, where 750,000 homes are at risk, New York had 466 919 homes, New Jersey 445 928 and Texas 434 421.

First published: 10 juillet 2014: 10: 47 et