These 3 Cities Have the Most Homes at Risk of Being Hit by a Hurricane This Year—and Insurance Issues Look Different in Each

The New York metropolitan area faces the highest hurricane wind risk in the United States, with over 3.2 million homes exposed and an estimated reconstruction cost exceeding $1.93 trillion, according to Cotality's 2026 Hurricane Risk Report. Houston ranks second, with 2.17 million homes at risk and an estimated $824 billion in reconstruction costs, followed by Miami, which has approximately 2.04 million properties exposed and $616 billion in projected rebuilding costs. Across the nation, 32.2 million properties are estimated to face moderate or greater hurricane wind risk this year, representing over $12 trillion in potential reconstruction expenses. The report highlights that residents in these high-risk areas, including New York, Houston, and Miami, may encounter difficulties in obtaining affordable home insurance or securing coverage altogether. Historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that 10 hurricanes have made landfall in New York since 1858, with two classified as major Category 3 storms, including the 1938 Great New England hurricane that brought 120 mph winds to central Long Island. Jason Brewer, chief meteorologist at Marsh McLennan Agency in Boston, stated that a storm of that magnitude today could cause over $40 billion in damage to the Northeast.