CB11-FF.12 

 April 21, 2011 

 

2011 Hurricane Season Begins

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

Bureau produces timely local data 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 

36.8 million 

2010 Census population, as of April 1, 2010, most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes: the coastal 

portion of states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Approximately 12 percent of the 

nation’s population live in these areas. 

Source: 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

14.0 million 

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

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

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

163% 

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

between 1960 and 2010. 

Source: 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov> and 1960 Census 

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

179,015 

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> 

12 

The number of hurricanes during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, five of which were major 

hurricanes at Category 3-strength or higher. None of these storms made landfall in the U.S., 

though Alex made landfall just south of Texas in Mexico and Earl brushed the East Coast. 

Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2009atlan.shtml> 
 

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> 

Arlene 

The name of the first Atlantic storm of 2011. Hurricane names rotate in a six-year cycle with the 

2011 list being a repeat of the 2005 names. The World Meteorological Organization retired the 

names of four major hurricanes that made landfall in the United States during 2005: Dennis, 

Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Stan, a Category 1 storm, was also retired after causing extensive loss 

of life in Central America. They have been replaced by Don, Katia, Rina, Sean and Whitney. 

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 - 2010 

STATE HURRICANES MAJOR 

Florida 113 37 

Texas 63 19 

Louisiana 55 20 

Table: Hurricanes strikes (1851-2010) 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. (2006). Source: National Hurricane Center 

<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/Deadliest_Costliest.shtml> 

 

Preparing for Emergencies Using Census Data 

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 

socioeconomic 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 data. 
 

Hurricane Andrew and Homestead, Fla. 

1992 

Hurricane Andrew forms in the Atlantic Ocean and makes landfall in Florida on Aug. 24, 

destroying a large swath of South Florida, most notably the city of Homestead. Andrew later 

made landfall 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/HAW2/english/history.shtlm> 

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> 

106% 

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

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

Source: Vintage 1999 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/1990s> 

23,419 

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

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

11.7 %

Percent of people in Homestead, Fla., with no motor vehicle access, according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

$220,400

Median home value of owner-occupied units in Homestead, Fla., according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 
 

27.5% 

The percent of people who live in poverty in Homestead, Fla., according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans 

2005 

Hurricane Katrina makes landfall along the Louisiana coast on Aug. 29, leaving a devastating 

path of death and destruction in its wake as the city of New Orleans and surrounding region were 

inundated from the storm surge. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest tropical cyclone in U.S 

history, with an estimated cost of $125 billion (2005 USD), and killing 1,833 in the U.S. 

Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/history.shtlm> 

Category 3 

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

sustained winds measured at 125 mph. Katrina had strengthened significantly the day before, 

reaching Category 5 intensity. 

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

343,829 

Population of New Orleans, according to the 2010 Census taken April 1, 2010. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

-25% 

Percentage decline of the population in New Orleans, between 2005 and 2010. The estimated 

2005 population of New Orleans was 455,188. 

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

189,896 

The total number of housing units in New Orleans, according to the 2010 Census. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

18.2 %

Percent of people in New Orleans, with no motor vehicle access, according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 
 

$192,600 

Median home value of owner-occupied units in New Orleans, according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

23.8% 

The percent of people who live below poverty level in New Orleans, according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

Hurricane Ike and Galveston, Texas 

2008 

Hurricane Ike makes landfall at Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 13, laying total destruction to 

Galveston Island and adjacent coastline as the storm moves ashore with an immense wind field 

and storm surge due to its massive size, becoming the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. 

Hurricane Ike was the third costliest tropical cyclone in U.S history, killing 112 in the U.S. 

Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/history.shtlm> 

Category 2 

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

sustained winds measured at 110 mph. Ike had reached Category 4 strength over the Atlantic 

Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. 

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

47,743

Population of Galveston, Texas, according to the 2010 Census taken April 1, 2010. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

-16% 

Percentage decline of the population in Galveston, Texas, between 2008 and 2010. The estimated 

2008 population of Galveston was 57,039. 

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

32,368 

The total number of housing units in Galveston, Texas, according to the 2010 Census. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 
 

13.3%

Percent of people in Galveston, Texas, with no motor vehicle access, according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

$115,500 

Median home value of owner-occupied units in Galveston, Texas, according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

22.6% 

The percent of people who live in poverty in Galveston, Texas, according to the latest data 

available. 

Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

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) Labor Day 

Super Bowl Grandparents Day 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) 

Women’s History Month (March) Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ Halloween (Oct. 31) 

 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month 

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) (November) 

Older Americans Month (May) Veterans Day (Nov. 11) 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) Thanksgiving Day 

Mother’s Day The Holiday Season (December) 

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) 

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>.