More than 6.5 million U.S. homes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts lie in the path of potential storm surge inundation, representing nearly $1.5 trillion in total potential reconstruction costs, according to the 2014 storm surge analysis by global property analytics provider CoreLogic.

The analysis examined homes along the coastlines of 19 states and the District of Columbia, as far west as Texas and as far north as Maine. The concepts in the survey complement Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood zone information to provide a snapshot of potential damage exposure at the property level, as many properties located outside designated FEMA flood zones are still at risk for storm surge damage.

To enhance accuracy, the 2014 analysis included new construction and expanded single-family residential structures to include mobile and manufactured homes, resulting in a higher number of total homes identified within potential surge areas. Replacement values represent estimates of reconstruction costs including labor and material, and based on 100% destruction of the residential structure. CoreLogic uses Marshall & Swift/Boeckh(MSB) reconstruction valuation data, which are based on reconstruction cost estimates rather than market valuation data.