Severe weather started early in 2012, when a rare January tornado cut a 10-mile-long path through Burke County, destroying 12 homes.

Then, residents in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties took cover when an EF-2 tornado damaged more than 200 homes on March 3.

Andrew Casasanta's home now sits next to an empty lot, while workers hammer the frame of a new house two doors down.

“We had a pretty long rebuilding process,” Casasanta said. “But we finally got it in, and the neighborhood is coming along pretty well.”

In all, North Carolina reported more than 1,100 incidents of severe weather in 2012. That's second only to Texas out of all 50 states.

And North Carolina topped the list in 2011 with nearly 1,700 reports of tornadoes, strong wind and hail.

In any given year, you're more likely to face severe weather in North Carolina than in many other parts of the country. That's because of the state's unique position along the East Coast.

Severe storms are often fueled along the battleground between warm humid air to the south and the cool dry air sinking in across the mountains.

Also, North Carolina has the greatest change in altitude of any state in the eastern half of the country. Air travels from more than 6,000 feet in elevation above the Appalachians all the way down to sea level near the coast. Those ingredients all combine to increase the risk for damaging severe weather.

But even residents who deal with the worst storms aren't thinking about leaving North Carolina any time soon.

“No, not at all, not at all,” Casasanta said. “North Carolina is a great state for weather, I think. Especially if you enjoy watching weather. So, it's a good state."