Gulf and Atlantic coast: where hurricanes fill the declaration list

The coast at a glance

Tornado and thunderstorm wind counts are from NOAA's Storm Events Database for 2016 through 2025. Declaration counts are major disasters since fiscal year 2000 in FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries, with the number FEMA codes as hurricanes.

State by state

Florida

More than half of Florida's 44 major disaster declarations are coded as hurricanes, 24 in all, the highest hurricane count in the storm-belt table. Roofing is one of the construction categories that requires state registration or certification; a certified contractor can work statewide, while a registered one works only in the county or city where it is registered and in nearby places that accept the registration.

Florida roofers · Florida storm center · Florida licensing

Louisiana

Fifteen of Louisiana's 37 major disaster declarations are hurricanes. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors defines home improvement as work on an existing residence with a project value of $7,500 or more, and it separately covers residential construction over $50,000.

Louisiana roofers · Louisiana storm center · Louisiana licensing

Mississippi

Mississippi's 1,039 tornado events are the second-highest total in the storm-belt table, and 30 of its 47 major disaster declarations are coded as severe storms rather than hurricanes. The State Board of Contractors requires a license for residential roofing over $10,000.

Mississippi roofers · Mississippi storm center · Mississippi licensing

Alabama

Alabama pairs 861 tornado events with 7,391 thunderstorm wind events, and its largest hail report since 2000, a 5.38-inch stone near Walter in Cullman County on March 19, 2018, is the biggest among these seven states. Under the state's home builder law, a residential roofer needs a license from the Home Builders Licensure Board when the cost of the job exceeds $2,500.

Alabama roofers · Alabama storm center · Alabama licensing

Georgia

Georgia's 8,679 thunderstorm wind events are the most on this page and second only to Texas in the storm-belt table, even though it has just 25 major disaster declarations. For roofing rules, start with the directory's Georgia licensing page.

Georgia roofers · Georgia storm center · Georgia licensing

South Carolina

South Carolina has the fewest major disaster declarations on this page, 21, eight of them hurricanes. Roofers are one of the trades that register with the state's Residential Builders Commission as specialty contractors when a job exceeds $500.

South Carolina roofers · South Carolina storm center · South Carolina licensing

North Carolina

Eleven of North Carolina's 29 major disaster declarations are hurricanes. Since October 1, 2023, a North Carolina general contractor's license has been required for projects of $40,000 or more, up from the earlier threshold.

North Carolina roofers · North Carolina storm center · North Carolina licensing

Hurricanes and the county counts

NOAA's county counts don't capture a hurricane's full toll. NCEI's FAQ says damage listed under tropical cyclone events covers wind only, with surge, flooding and tornadoes filed as their own event types, and it points readers to the Tropical Cyclone Reports for a complete picture. That is why this page leans on the FEMA hurricane column: it records the storms that states could not handle alone.

Frequently asked questions

Which coastal state has the most hurricane declarations?

Florida. FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries list 24 of its 44 major disaster declarations since fiscal year 2000 as hurricanes.

Why does Georgia have so much thunderstorm wind but few declarations?

The two columns measure different things. The wind count tallies reported events in each county, while a declaration requires a governor's request showing the damage is beyond state and local capability and a presidential decision.

How do these states license roofers?

Differently. Florida certifies or registers roofing contractors, Alabama and Mississippi license residential roofers above set dollar amounts, and South Carolina registers roofers as specialty contractors. Each of the seven also has its own page in the National Roofing Directory's licensing hub.