SustainLane’s Top 10 Cities Least at Risk for Natural Disaster

You have signed a mortgage in Florida, and are now holding your breath through the current hurricane season. Or you commute to work every day in California, crossing over two earthquake faults, twice. You live in a major flood plain and are beginning to realize that

Cities at Greatest Risk

Based on these criteria, the cities with the greatest natural disaster risk are Miami (#50), which is sited on a peninsula between two prolific hurricane zones; New Orleans (#49); Oakland (#48), which straddles the Hayward Earthquake Fault; San Francisco (#47), on the San Andreas Fault and at risk for tsunamis; Honolulu (#46), subject to hurricanes, storm surge flooding, and tsunamis; and San Jose (#45), which is also near the San Andreas Fault.

Cities at Least Risk

Some U.S. cities are much less likely to be impacted by such natural disasters. Leading the pack for safe cities when considering such scenarios are Mesa, Arizona (#1) and Milwaukee, Wisconsin (#1), both of which are least likely to face hurricanes, earthquakes, catastrophic and tornado super-outbreaks, as they lack conditions needed to create these disasters. Catastrophic flooding is also not as likely. Other major U.S. cities ranking high for safety from natural disaster risk include Cleveland, El Paso, Phoenix and Tucson, AZ ( all ranked #3).

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