Storm Surge Risk Threatens Billions in Coastal Property Value Across 20 States

A new report from Cotality highlights that more than 6.4 million U.S. homes across 20 states face moderate or greater risk of storm surge damage, representing a combined $2.2 trillion in reconstruction value. Florida alone accounts for over 8.1 million at-risk homes—nearly 38% of the total—underscoring the severity of climate-driven threats in the region.

While Florida and Texas remain high-risk epicenters, traditionally less-suspected areas like Virginia, Massachusetts, and South Carolina are seeing growing exposure. The data reveals a widening geographic footprint of storm surge vulnerability, with home values and market activity increasingly shaped by rising flood risk and insurance challenges.

Communities such as Virginia Beach, Wilmington, and Charleston are already experiencing longer home listing times and tighter insurance markets, affecting who can buy and sell in these once-prized coastal locales. With liquidity drying up and costs rising, many homeowners are finding themselves trapped in properties they can’t afford to keep or sell.

As insurers pull back and premiums climb, the message is clear: underestimating hurricane-driven flood risks is no longer an option. For adjusters, insurers, and municipal planners alike, this data signals an urgent need for updated risk models, policy reform, and investment in resilience.