As billion-dollar natural disasters become more frequent across the United States, disaster preparedness has never been more crucial. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a Smilehub.org article, 2024 marked the 14th consecutive year with at least 10 billion-dollar disasters. Yet, only 45% of adults feel prepared for such events, while 42% admit they plan to prepare but haven’t taken action. With this in mind, which do you think are the best states for disaster preparedness in 2025? Let’s take a look and find out if you are safe… or definitely not out of the woods.
SmileHub’s latest analysis ranks all 50 states on disaster readiness, using 14 metrics like disaster relief charities per capita, mitigation plans, and community resilience. Here’s a spotlight on the top three most prepared and least prepared states heading into 2025.
Top 3 Best “Disaster Preparedness” States
1. Vermont
Vermont leads the nation with a total score of 60.99, ranking especially high in disaster prevention planning and overall resilience. Its robust infrastructure, strong support networks, and effective mitigation plans help ensure communities are ready to respond and recover quickly.
2. Massachusetts
Massachusetts scores 57.70, excelling in resilience infrastructure and support capacity. The state’s investment in public health, emergency planning, and community engagement places it firmly among the most prepared.
3. Hawaii
Despite its geographic challenges, Hawaii ranks third with a score of 55.42. The state’s proactive approach to disaster planning and funding, coupled with a strong community resilience score, makes it a standout for preparedness.
Top 3 Least-Prepared States
48. Nevada
With a score of 31.32, Nevada struggles with resilience infrastructure, ranking last in this category. Limited support capacity and lower investments in prevention leave the state vulnerable to disaster risks.
49. Arizona
Arizona’s total score of 30.61 reflects challenges in both disaster planning and infrastructure. The state ranks near the bottom for prevention efforts and support capacity, signaling a need for significant improvement.
50. Mississippi
Mississippi ranks last overall with a score of 26.02. It faces the highest risk of lasting damage from disasters and lags in both planning and support infrastructure, highlighting urgent needs for investment and community engagement.
How States Were Ranked
SmileHub evaluated states across three main dimensions:
- Resilience Infrastructure & Support Capacity (40 points): Includes metrics like disaster relief charities, medical professionals, and emergency services per capita.
- Disaster Prevention Planning & Funding (35 points): Assesses emergency management budgets, mitigation plans, and public health funding.
- Disaster Risk & Lasting Damage (25 points): Considers community resilience, frequency and cost of major disasters, and recovery capacity.
Each state’s performance across these weighted metrics determined its overall ranking.
