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• Many of the counties most at risk for climate disaster are worried the least about it.
• While climate worry correlates somewhat with climate disaster risk, there are broad swaths of at-risk counties that are relatively unworried about climate change.
• Most unworried, at-risk counties are in Southeast coastal communities or the Gulf Coast.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

In September 2024, hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through much of the Southeast, causing hundreds of deaths and hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. While the storms brought catastrophe to some of the most conservative parts of the country, and attribution scientists have declared that the hurricanes were made worse by global warming, natural disasters historically do little to shift climate change belief and action.

Many of the counties most at risk for climate disaster are worried the least about it. In their biennial survey, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication asked participants, “How worried are you about global warming?” with options ranging from “very worried” to “not at all worried.” Combining survey answers with FEMA climate disaster risk reveals dozens of high-risk counties that are relatively unworried about climate change.

To determine the high-risk counties that care about climate change the least, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on climate change belief from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and disaster risk from FEMA. Counties classified as “relatively high” or “very high” risk for natural disasters like flooding, earthquake, and wildfire by FEMA were ranked based on the percentage of surveyed residents who answered that they are “not very” or “not at all worried” about global warming in 2023. Supplemental data on median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and is for 2022.

50. Shelby County, TN

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.3%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 34.0%
• Median household income: $59,621
• County seat: Memphis

49. Brevard County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.5%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 57.6%
• Median household income: $71,308
• County seat: Titusville

48. Kern County, CA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.5%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 53.9%
• Median household income: $63,883
• County seat: Bakersfield

47. Beaufort County, SC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.5%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 54.4%
• Median household income: $81,260
• County seat: Beaufort

46. Seminole County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.5%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 48.0%
• Median household income: $79,490
• County seat: Sanford

45. Sutter County, CA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.6%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 57.2%
• Median household income: $72,654
• County seat: Yuba City

44. Polk County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.6%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 56.7%
• Median household income: $60,901
• County seat: Bartow

43. Lubbock County, TX

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.8%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 65.3%
• Median household income: $61,911
• County seat: Lubbock

42. Tulsa County, OK

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 38.9%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 56.5%
• Median household income: $65,229
• County seat: Tulsa

41. Lafayette Parish, LA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 39.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 63.3%
• Median household income: $66,617
• County seat: Lafayette

40. Escambia County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 39.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 56.7%
• Median household income: $61,642
• County seat: Pensacola

39. Ocean County, NJ

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 39.2%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 63.8%
• Median household income: $82,379
• County seat: Toms River

38. Jefferson County, AL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 39.4%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 42.6%
• Median household income: $63,595
• County seat: Birmingham

37. Pasco County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 39.7%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 59.5%
• Median household income: $63,187
• County seat: Dade City

36. Manatee County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 40.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 57.6%
• Median household income: $71,385
• County seat: Bradenton

35. Brunswick County, NC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 40.3%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 61.9%
• Median household income: $71,193
• County seat: Bolivia

34. Dare County, NC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 40.3%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 57.5%
• Median household income: $79,742
• County seat: Manteo

33. Galveston County, TX

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 40.3%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 60.6%
• Median household income: $83,913
• County seat: Galveston

32. Volusia County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 41.1%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 56.5%
• Median household income: $63,075
• County seat: DeLand

31. Dorchester County, SC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 41.3%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 54.2%
• Median household income: $73,686
• County seat: St. George

30. Jefferson County, TX

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 41.7%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 50.2%
• Median household income: $57,294
• County seat: Beaumont

29. Ascension Parish, LA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 42.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 65.3%
• Median household income: $93,800
• County seat: Donaldsonville

28. Collier County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 42.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 62.0%
• Median household income: $82,011
• County seat: East Naples

27. Okaloosa County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 42.3%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 68.6%
• Median household income: $73,988
• County seat: Crestview

26. Martin County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 42.5%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 62.0%
• Median household income: $77,894
• County seat: Stuart

25. Craven County, NC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 42.7%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 58.5%
• Median household income: $61,676
• County seat: New Bern

24. Marion County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 42.9%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 62.5%
• Median household income: $55,265
• County seat: Ocala

23. Montgomery County, TX

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 43.1%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 71.2%
• Median household income: $95,946
• County seat: Conroe

22. Tangipahoa Parish, LA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 43.1%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 65.6%
• Median household income: $55,274
• County seat: Amite City

21. Indian River County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 60.4%
• Median household income: $67,543
• County seat: Vero Beach

20. Berkeley County, SC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.1%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 54.9%
• Median household income: $77,874
• County seat: Moncks Corner

19. Carteret County, NC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.2%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 70.3%
• Median household income: $66,965
• County seat: Beaufort

18. Horry County, SC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.5%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 66.1%
• Median household income: $59,880
• County seat: Conway

17. Charlotte County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.6%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 63.0%
• Median household income: $62,164
• County seat: Punta Gorda

16. Citrus County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.6%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 70.1%
• Median household income: $52,569
• County seat: Inverness

15. Utah County, UT

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.7%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 67.8%
• Median household income: $91,263
• County seat: Provo

14. St. Tammany Parish, LA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 44.9%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 71.1%
• Median household income: $76,914
• County seat: Covington

13. Bay County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 45.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 71.1%
• Median household income: $65,999
• County seat: Panama City

12. Hernando County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 45.1%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 64.6%
• Median household income: $59,202
• County seat: Brooksville

11. Mobile County, AL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 46.1%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 55.3%
• Median household income: $55,352
• County seat: Mobile

10. Onslow County, NC

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 46.2%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 63.8%
• Median household income: $59,976
• County seat: Jacksonville

9. Jackson County, MS

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 46.6%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 66.5%
• Median household income: $60,045
• County seat: Pascagoula

8. Calcasieu Parish, LA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 46.7%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 66.6%
• Median household income: $64,370
• County seat: Lake Charles

7. Santa Rosa County, FL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 47.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 72.4%
• Median household income: $84,715
• County seat: Milton

6. Washington County, UT

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 48.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 73.9%
• Median household income: $71,976
• County seat: St. George

5. Terrebonne Parish, LA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 48.0%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 74.3%
• Median household income: $63,088
• County seat: Houma

4. Baldwin County, AL

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 48.8%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 76.2%
• Median household income: $71,039
• County seat: Bay Minette

3. Harrison County, MS

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 49.5%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 61.8%
• Median household income: $55,211
• County seat: Biloxi

2. Livingston Parish, LA

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 50.7%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 84.1%
• Median household income: $77,978
• County seat: Livingston

1. Orange County, TX

• Residents who are not worried about global warming: 50.9%
• FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
• Adults who voted Republican in 2020: 81.1%
• Median household income: $71,910
• County seat: Orange

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