Understanding America’s Fear of Natural Disasters: A 2020 Survey Analysis
In our comprehensive analysis, tornadoes emerged as the primary fear among U.S. residents, highlighting why preparedness remains a priority. According to our 2020 survey of 2,253 participants, tornadoes were the most feared natural disaster, with 44% of respondents selecting them as their top concern. Since then, multiple national trackers point to sustained salience of disaster risk: the United States set a new record with 28 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2023; a majority of adults report recent local exposure to extreme weather—71% say their community experienced at least one event in the past year; and concern about global warming remains near record highs (Gallup). FEMA’s nationally representative National Household Survey (NHS) also finds substantial shares who believe a disaster is likely within the next year and who worry about hazards, while many households still lack complete plans and supplies.
Key findings:
- In our 2020 survey, tornadoes were the most feared disaster (44%). Since then, disaster salience has remained high nationally: 71% of U.S. adults report their community experienced an extreme-weather event in the prior year, and concern about global warming is near record highs (Gallup).
- Earthquakes and wildfires followed at 16.3% and 16.1%, respectively. The cost and frequency of high-impact events have escalated: NOAA logged a record 28 billion-dollar disasters in 2023; the recent 5-year average is about 20 events per year versus a long-term (1980–2023) average near 8.5 (NOAA NCEI).
- Location shapes which hazards people fear most. FEMA’s NHS shows regional patterns—hurricanes along Gulf/Atlantic coasts, wildfires in the West, tornadoes in the Midwest and parts of the South, and earthquakes on the West Coast—alongside rising attention to extreme heat and air quality. Research also documents an eastward shift in U.S. tornado risk toward the Mid‑South/Southeast, with increasing cool‑season and nocturnal events.
With close to 20,000 earthquakes recorded annually, most go unfelt. However, tornadoes, with approximately 1,100–1,400 events each year, remain a dominant fear and affect many regions. Severe convective storms (hail, wind, tornadoes) now account for a large share of high-cost U.S. disasters, contributing to the record 28 billion-dollar events in 2023 and a recent average near 20 per year, compared with roughly 8.5 in the long-term record (NOAA NCEI). Peer‑reviewed evidence points to an eastward shift in tornado-favorable environments, elevating risk in the Mid‑South/Southeast where nighttime and cool‑season events complicate warning reception and preparedness.
Our survey results, detailed below, reveal the distribution of natural disaster fears as of 2020:
| Natural Disaster | % of Response |
| Tornadoes | 44.0% |
| Earthquakes | 16.3% |
| Wildfires | 16.1% |
| Hurricanes | 12.5% |
| Floods | 6.6% |
| Winter storms | 4.6% |
Regional Concerns: Location significantly influences hazard salience. In the West, wildfire and earthquake worry is most prominent; along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, hurricanes and coastal flooding dominate; the Midwest and parts of the South emphasize tornadoes; and riverine and flash flooding concerns are elevated in parts of the Northeast and Midwest. These patterns align with FEMA’s nationally representative National Household Survey and research indicating an eastward shift of tornado risk into the Mid‑South/Southeast, where cool‑season and nocturnal events add vulnerability. Recent catastrophic floods in the Northeast (e.g., FEMA DR‑4720, Vermont) further illustrate how local experience elevates flood concern and policy focus.
Despite geographic differences, tornadoes remain a national concern due to their rapid onset and wide geographic footprint, and severe convective storms increasingly drive high-frequency losses. The drumbeat of costly events—28 billion-dollar disasters in 2023 and a recent average near 20 per year—keeps risk salient. Experience also matters: a majority of Americans report encountering extreme weather locally in the past year (Pew), and high-impact local events such as the 2023 Vermont floods can shift community priorities toward preparedness and resilience.
Disaster Preparedness Tips: Regardless of the threat, preparation is vital. We recommend following Ready.gov guidance and augmenting it with current tools: enable Wireless Emergency Alerts via FEMA IPAWS/WEA, program a NOAA Weather Radio, and—where available—use USGS ShakeAlert for earthquake early warning. For decision support, monitor NWS HeatRisk during heat waves, the Fire and Smoke Map for air quality, and NOAA’s National Water Model outputs via local NWS pages for flood guidance. Build or update go-bags with water, medications, radios, power banks/chargers, and N95s, and practice home fire and evacuation drills.
Survey methodology:
- Survey fielded in 2020 with 2,253 U.S. residents. 2025 methodology verification: for general-population benchmarks, current best practice is probability-based address-based sampling (ABS) or recruitment to a probability online panel; see Pew Research Center’s ABS panel methods for standards.
- Responses collected online, ensuring anonymity and diverse geographic coverage. To align with 2025 standards, document weighting (base weights, nonresponse adjustments, raking to current ACS/CPS benchmarks), design effects, and variance estimation; adhere to AAPOR transparency. For nonprobability samples, avoid traditional margins of error and clearly describe model-based uncertainty.
- Demographics: 51.9% female, 48.1% male, 18+. Update demographic measures for comparability: use the 2024 OMB SPD 15 combined race/ethnicity question (includes MENA) and adopt two-step sex/gender with inclusive SOGI items; document online data quality controls per ESOMAR/GRBN.
For more insights, explore related discussions on natural disaster preparedness and emergency planning. You can also bookmark HeatRisk and the Fire and Smoke Map for real-time situational awareness.
