Taylor Kroschel

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-states-with-the-deadliest-weather-2015-09-11
Despite a historically slow start to tornado season in 2015, more than 400 tornadoes were reported in May alone, roughly double the average in recent years. While some states are more susceptible to violent weather than others, all states could be struck by a natural disaster at any time. Using data from the National Weather Service, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed weather-related fatalities from 2010 through 2014. Nationally, 2,950 people died from natural disasters over that time, or fewer than two people per million residents in each of the five years reviewed. In Alabama, 12 people died per one million residents over that time, the most of any state. Because many of the numbers are small and susceptible to large fluctuations, the ranking is based on the annual average number of weather-related deaths over the five-year period reviewed. Using population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. calculated severe weather fatalities per 1 million residents. Also from the NWS, the total value of damage caused by natural disasters was reviewed, as well as breakdowns of the kind of weather responsible for the death: extreme temperature, flooding, lightning, tornadoes, wind and winter storms. These are the nine states with the most dangerous weather.