Louisiana has the highest percent of employment at risk during hurricane season

Hurricane season affects county employment and wages in the 19 Gulf and Atlantic Coast states. Every third quarter, during peak hurricane season, we update maps and data for hurricane flood zones in these coastal states. In third quarter of 2023, Louisiana, once again, had the largest share of employment located in hurricane flood zones, 30.6 percent. This was followed by Florida (20.5 percent), New York (16.3 percent), New Jersey (15.7 percent), and Massachusetts (15.7 percent). North Carolina, Alabama, and New Hampshire had the lowest percentages of employment in hurricane flood zones among states in affected areas along the coast.

Some areas have large proportions of their employment in hurricane flood zones. In the months of July through September, 10 of the top 25 areas were Louisiana parishes, 7 were North Carolina counties, and 3 were Florida counties. St. John the Baptist, Louisiana, had the largest share of employment located in hurricane flood zones, 95.7 percent, followed by Lafourche, Louisiana, 95.5 percent, and Currituck, North Carolina, 95.4 percent. Charlotte, Florida, had the largest share of employment in hurricane flood zones within the state of Florida, 89.3 percent.

These data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). We have more hurricane maps and data with employment, wages, and establishment counts in hurricane flood zones, as well as  flood zone questions and answers. Hurricane maps and table data are from third quarter because it is most aligned with the hurricane season determined by the National Hurricane Center.