Florida Ranked 3rd Least Safe State In Nation By WalletHub

BRADENTON, FL — Florida has been ranked the third least safe state in the United States by personal finance website WalletHub. The study examined 52 key metrics ranging from assaults per capita, unemployment and total losses from climate disasters per person.

The rankings, which were released Tuesday, are timed to coincide with the June arrival of National Safety Month. A spokeswoman for WalletHub said that researchers collected and analyzed data from several reputable sources, such as the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI, in compiling the rankings.

"With every new headline about a mass shooting, terrorist attack, hate crime or natural disaster, many of us fear for our safety and that of our loved ones," WalletHub penned. "Just in 2018, the devastating Camp Fire killed 86 people and hurricanes Florence and Michael took the lives of dozens each. And Louisiana led the U.S. in the homicide rate, averaging 12.4 per 100,000 people. Each state is safe from some dangers but falls prey to others."

Here's how Florida ranked in key categories (1=safest; 25=average):

• 26th – Murders and non-negligent manslaughters per capita
• 33rd – Assaults per capita
• 44th – Loss amounts from climate disasters per capita
• 20th – Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 full-time workers
• 42nd – Fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of Travel
• 39th – Sex offenders per capita
• 47th – Share of uninsured population

"Safety is a basic human need," WalletHub said. "We require some form of it, such as personal and financial protection, in every part of daily life. But we’re likely to feel more secure in some states than in others."

Minnesota, Vermont and Maine were the three safest states in the United States followed by Utah and Connecticut.

Mississippi was chosen as the least safe of the 50 states followed by Louisiana and Florida.

Click here to read the full study.