CB12-FF.13 

May 31, 2012 

2012 Hurricane Season Begins 

The north Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30. The U.S. Census 

Bureau produces timely local statistics that are critical to emergency planning, preparedness and 

recovery efforts. This edition of Facts for Features highlights the number of people living in 

areas that could be most affected by these dramatic acts of nature. 

In the Hurricane’s Path 

37.3 million 

Population as of July 1, 2011, of the coastal portion of states stretching from North Carolina to 

Texas — the areas most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes. Approximately 12 percent of the 

nation’s population live in these areas. 

Source: 2011 Population Estimates <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

14.0 million 

1960 coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Approximately 

8 percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas at that time. 

Source: 1960 Census <http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/> 

166% 

Percentage growth of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas 

between 1960 and 2011. 

Source: 2011 Population Estimates <http://factfinder2.census.gov> and 1960 Census 

<http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/> 

179,034 

Collective land area in square miles of the coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas. 

Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html> 

The number of hurricanes during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, four of them Category 

3-strength or higher. Irene was the only hurricane to make landfall in the U.S., though 

Subtropical Storm Lee and Tropical Storm Don both made landfall on the Gulf Coast. 

Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2011atlan.shtml> 

7 
 

 

1950
 The year the Weather Bureau officially began naming hurricanes. 

Source: Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory 

<http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J6.html> 

Alberto 

The name of the first Atlantic storm of 2012. Hurricane names rotate in a six-year cycle with the 

2012 list being a repeat of the 2006 names. For the first time since 1997, the World 

Meteorological Center did not retire a storm name. 

Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml> 

2005 

In one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, 28 named storms formed, forcing use 

of the alternate Greek alphabet scheme for the first time. When the National Hurricane Center’s 

list of 21 approved names runs out for the year, hurricanes are named after Greek letters. Of the 

28 named storms in 2005, 15 were hurricanes, with four storms reaching Category 5 status 

(Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma) and three more being considered major. 

Source: Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory 

<http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J6.html> 

Top Three States for Hurricane Impacts 

Number of Hurricanes Making Landfall: 1851 - 2011 

STATE HURRICANES MAJOR 

Florida 114 37 

Texas 64 19 

Louisiana 57 20 

Table: Hurricanes strikes (1851-2011) for select states by Saffir-Simpson category. Category 

3-strength or higher, with sustained winds in excess of 110 miles per hour, is considered major. 

Updated and modified from Blake et al. (2011). Source: National Hurricane Center 

<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf> 

Preparing for Emergencies Using Census Bureau Statistics 

The growth in population of coastal areas illustrates the importance of emergency planning and 

preparedness for areas that are more susceptible to inclement weather conditions. The U.S. 

Census Bureau’s official decennial census and population estimates, along with annually updated 

socio-economic data from the American Community Survey, provide a detailed look at the 

nation’s growing coastal population. Emergency planners and community leaders can better 

assess the needs of coastal populations using Census Bureau statistics. 
 

Hurricane Irene 

2011 

Hurricane Irene made landfall on Aug. 27 as a Category 1 hurricane and caused widespread 

damage across a large portion of the eastern United States as it moved north-northeastward. 

Catastrophic inland flooding occurred in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Vermont. Irene was 

directly responsible for 40 deaths in the United States. 

Source: National Hurricane Center: <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL092011_Irene.pdf> 

20 Year Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew 

1992 

Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Florida on Aug. 24, destroying a large swath of South 

Florida, most notably the city of Homestead. Andrew later landed on the central Louisiana coast 

on Aug. 26 as a Category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Andrew was the second costliest tropical 

cyclone in U.S history and killed 23 in the U.S. 

Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1992andrew.html> 

Category 5 

The strength of Hurricane Andrew at landfall based on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum 

sustained winds measured at 165 mph. Andrew was originally measured as a Category 4 storm 

but was later upgraded to Category 5 status in 2002 based on a reanalysis of wind speeds. 

Source: NOAA <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/NOAA_pr_8-21-02.html> 

60,512 

Population of Homestead, Fla., according to the 2010 Census taken April 1, 2010. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US1232275> 

106% 

Percentage growth of the population in Homestead, Fla., between 1992 and 2010. The estimated 

1992 population of Homestead, Fla., was 29,431. 

Source: Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/1990s> 

23,419 

The number of housing units in Homestead, Fla., according to the 2010 Census. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US1232275> 

11.5 % 

Percent of workers 16 and over in Homestead, Fla., with no motor vehicle access. 

Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey, Table S0802 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US1232275> 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$209,100 

Median home value of owner-occupied units in Homestead, Fla., 

Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey, Table B25077 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US1232275> 

28.4% 

The percent of people who live below poverty level in Homestead, Fla., 

Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey, Table S1701 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US1232275> 

Note: Coastal counties include those with at least 15 percent of their total land area within the 

nation's coastal watershed. <http://www.census.gov/geo/landview/lv6help/coastal_cty.pdf> 

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series: 

Black History Month (February) 

Super Bowl
 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14)

Women’s History Month (March)

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/
 

St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) 

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) 

Older Americans Month (May) 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5)

Mother’s Day 

Hurricane Season Begins (June 1)
 

Father’s Day 

The Fourth of July (July 4)
 

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) 

Back to School (August) 
 

 Labor Day 

Grandparents Day 

 Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) 

 Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Halloween (Oct. 31) 

American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month 

(November) 

 Veterans Day (Nov. 11) 

 Thanksgiving Day 

The Holiday Season (December) 

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling 

variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an 

observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to 

the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: 

<pio@census.gov>.