Hurricane Helene made landfall near Cedar Key, Florida, on September 26, 2024, as a Category 4 storm, traveling roughly 500 miles inland through Georgia and the southern Appalachians before dissipating near Tennessee. It caused severe inland flooding and damage across the Southeast.
Climate change underpins many conversations surrounding the scale and intensity of recent natural disasters. While nationwide nearly three in four Americans believe the planet is warming, there is less consensus around the actual risks and consequences that will result from climate change.
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, in partnership with George Mason University, regularly conducts one of the nation’s most detailed climate-opinion surveys. Out of 30 questions, one of the most contentious reveals the level of worry participants experience regarding global warming.
In their survey, Yale asked participants, “How worried are you about global warming?” with options ranging from “very worried” to “not at all worried”. While nationwide 63% of Americans say they are very or somewhat worried about global warming, large regional disparities persist throughout the country.
There are several factors correlated with climate change worry. In general, higher education levels correlate strongly with concern about climate change, though income shows a weaker and more region-dependent relationship. Ironically, some high-risk counties show lower reported concern about climate change, though this pattern varies by region.
To determine the counties that are worried about climate change the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on climate change belief from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Counties were ranked based on the percentage of surveyed residents who answered that they are “somewhat” or “very worried” about global warming in 2024.
This post was updated on October 12, 2025 to include the most up to date survey data, clarify Helene’s landfall near Cedar Key, distance and route the hurricane traveled, and socio-economic correlation to feelings about climate change.
18. Baltimore County, MD
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 75%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 82%
- County seat: Towson
17. Camden County, NJ
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 75%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 79%
- County seat: Camden
16. Tompkins County, NY
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 76%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 84
- County seat: Ithaca
15. Santa Cruz County, CA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 76%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 86%
- County seat: Santa Cruz
14. Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 79%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83%
- County seat: N/A
13. Santa Clara County, CA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 75%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83%
- County seat: San Jose
12. Arlington County, VA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 78%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 85%
- County seat: Arlington
11. Bergen County, NJ
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 75%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 82%
- County seat: Hackensack
10. Hudson County, NJ
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 76%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 82%
- County seat: Jersey City
9. Montgomery County, MD
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 77%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 84%
- County seat: Rockville
8. Multnomah County, OR
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 79%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 84%
- County seat: Portland
7. San Mateo County, CA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 78%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 85%
- County seat: Redwood City
6. Suffolk County, MA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 79%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83%
- County seat: Boston
5. Queens County, NY
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 80%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83%
4. Philadelphia County, PA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 78%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 79%
- County seat: Philadelphia
3. Alameda County, CA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 78%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 87%
2. San Francisco County, CA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 82%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 89%
- County seat: San Francisco
1. King County, WA
- Residents who are worried about climate change: 76%
- Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 85%
- County seat: Seattle
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks