Louisiana has highest percent of employment at risk because of hurricane flooding

When hurricanes strike, coastal areas of the United States are the hardest hit. Let's examine the employment in hurricane flood zones. Louisiana had the largest share of employment located in hurricane flood zones, 29.1 percent in the third quarter of 2022. This was followed by Florida (20.8 percent), New York (16.1 percent), New Jersey (15.5 percent), and Massachusetts (15.5 percent). New Hampshire and Alabama had the lowest percentage of employment in hurricane flood zones among states located on the Gulf or Atlantic Coast.

Among the 25 areas with the largest percent of affected employment, 10 were Louisiana parishes and 7 were North Carolina counties. Currituck County, North Carolina, had the largest share of employment located in hurricane flood zones, 96.2 percent, followed by Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, 92.0 percent.

These data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. We have more maps and data for hurricane flood zones on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Employment is measured by the average monthly employment for the third quarter of 2022. The data for hurricane maps and tables are from the third quarter because it coincides most closely with the hurricane season determined by the National Hurricane Center.