Tornadoes can be both devastating and deadly. Although they can occur throughout most of the United States some States are at more risk than others. According to the National Weather Service, a total of 882 Tornadoes touched down in the United States in 2012 however, this is a relevantly small amount for any one year, yet it started in March and April with the highest Tornado rates for those months, after which, it just seemed to stop. Since records have been kept since 1950, the average number of Tornadoes to touch down in the United States per year is between 1000 and 1200, with 2011 having the highest annual rate of 1,692.
This list takes into account the number of tornadoes per state, not the size or death toll of the Tornadoes; if it did then Florida would not be top of the list. Here are the top 10 US States with the highest Tornado risk:
10
Texas
Risk: 5.2 – State Population: 24,145,561
Although Texas is 10th on the list, it does not mean to say that Tornadoes can be taken lightly here. In 1953 a Tornado in Texas killed 114 people and injured 597 others.
9
Louisiana
Risk: 5.6 – State Population 4,533,732
One of the deadliest Tornadoes touched down in Louisiana on the eastern bank of the Red River in 1978.
8
Maryland
Risk: 5.7 – State Population 5,773,552
Located near the Atlantic coast, Maryland is always under threat of tropical cyclones is thought to have at least 6 Tornadoes every year.
7
Mississippi
Risk: 5.7 – State Population 2,967,297
Mississippi of course was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and suffered heavy flooding, the State though is always on high alert for tropical storms or Tornadoes.
6
Indiana
Risk: 6.1 – State Population 6,483,802
Indiana’s high position on this list is best displayed by 1965 when it was hit by a total of 44 Tornadoes causing 137 deaths and 1820 injuries.
5
Illinois
Risk: 6.2 – State Population 12,830,632
Illinois is high on the list and only fairly recently suffered $20 million of damage, 6 lives lost and 100 people injured.
4
Iowa
Risk: – 6.6 – State Population 3,046,355
Although it didn’t cost any lives, a nasty Tornado in 2011 caused a lot of injures and millions of dollars in damage. On average Iowa gets 37 Tornadoes every year.
3
Kansas
Risk: – 6.7 – State Population 2,853,118
Storms that occur in this state can often turn into super storms and although the people of the state are often well prepared for Tornado activity, one Tornado in 2011 cost one person their life.
2
Oklahoma
Risk: 8.2 – State Population 3,751,351
Oklahoma is located in the middle of what is known as Tornado Alley and so most residents are well prepared but that does not illuminate the risks.
1
Florida
Risk: – 9.4 – State Population 18,801,310
Florida suffers the most number of Tornados and although generally they are not as powerful as those in other States, in 2004 one did kill 49 people.