Almost every state in the United States has been affected by extreme windstorms such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Virtually every state has been affected by a “considerable” tornado (see the terms in Table I.1).

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas in the United States – including coastal areas of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – and coastal areas of Hawaii have been affected by hurricanes. Even in states not normally considered to be susceptible to extreme windstorms there are areas that experience dangerous high winds. These areas are typically near mountain ranges, and include the Pacific Northwest coast.