Residents along the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina faced hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge this week after Hurricane Ian made its first landfall west of Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday. The Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg areas are also experiencing severe flooding and hurricane winds.
Many of the region’s more than 4 million residents live in low-lying neighborhoods that are vulnerable to storm surge. According to the American Red Cross, more than 33,000 people sought refuge in 260 evacuation shelters across Florida to escape Ian on Wednesday night.
Hurricane Ian follows after a series of recent horrific climate disasters. Since the start of June and the hurricane season, unusually heavy monsoon rains caused historic floods in Pakistan, Hurricane Fiona brought destruction to Puerto Rico and Atlantic Canada, the worst drought in 500 years started wreaking havoc in Europe, and unprecedented heat waves dried up rivers in China, affecting 900 million people.
Due in large part to atmospheric warming caused by emissions from human activities, once-in-a-life-time weather events are occurring regularly and with increasing frequency all around the world, including the United States. (These are countries facing the worst climate emergencies.)
According to a July study by international scientists in Nature Climate Change, the annual number of cyclones forming globally is decreasing significantly under global warming. However, the intensity of tropical storms is rising, and some are moving at slower speeds, elevating the risk of damage to coastal communities. And while enforcing building codes, investing in hurricane resistant design techniques, and other infrastructure improvements can help mitigate storm damage — there is no such thing as a hurricane-proof home.
Of the 51 most costly storms in U.S. history, 28 – including the top 10 – have occurred in the last 20 years. Based on recent estimates that Hurricane Ian has already caused over $100 billion in damage, the Category 4 storm is likely to also rank among the most costly tropical cyclones in U.S. history. Hurricane Katrina, which caused over 1,800 fatalities and $186.3 billion in damages to New Orleans and the surrounding area in August 2005, is the most costly storm in U.S. history. (Find out if Hurricane Katrina is among the deadliest billion dollar natural disasters in U.S. history.)
To identify the costliest U.S. tropical cyclones, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the cost of hurricanes throughout history, estimated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information. Both the inflation-adjusted (using 2022 consumer price index) and unadjusted cost of each storm came from the report. The estimated number of deaths associated with each storm was obtained from news reports.
Click here to see the costliest U.S. tropical cyclones in the US.
Source: Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons
51. Bob (1991)
> U.S. landfall: Big Bend area of Florida between Apalachicola and Cedar Key
> Adjusted cost: $3.2 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $1.5 billion
> Deaths: 17
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50. Lee (2011)
> U.S. landfall: The coast of southern Louisiana, south-southeast of Intracoastal City
> Adjusted cost: $3.2 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $2.5 billion
> Deaths: 18
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Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images
49. Delta (2020)
> U.S. landfall: The Yucatan Peninsula and in southwestern Louisiana
> Adjusted cost: $3.2 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $2.9 billion
> Deaths: 6
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
48. Elena (1985)
> U.S. landfall: Near Biloxi, Mississippi
> Adjusted cost: $3.5 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $1.3 billion
> Deaths: 9
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Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images
47. Isaac (2012)
> U.S. landfall: Southeastern Louisiana
> Adjusted cost: $3.5 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $2.8 billion
> Deaths: 41
Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images
46. Dennis (2005)
> U.S. landfall: Across the western Florida Panhandle into southwestern Alabama
> Adjusted cost: $3.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $2.5 billion
> Deaths: 88
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Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
45. Donna (1960)
> U.S. landfall: 30 miles east of Sarasota, Florida; southeast New England
> Adjusted cost: $3.8 billion
> Unadjusted cost: N/A
> Deaths: 364
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Source: Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons
44. Juan (1985)
> U.S. landfall: Near Morgan City, Louisiana; West of Pensacola, Florida
> Adjusted cost: $4.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $1.5 billion
> Deaths: 4
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
43. Marilyn (1995)
> U.S. landfall: U.S. Virgin Islands
> Adjusted cost: $4.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $2.1 billion
> Deaths: 24
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Source: Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
42. Zeta (2020)
> U.S. landfall: Southeastern Louisiana
> Adjusted cost: $4.9 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $4.4 billion
> Deaths: 9
Source: Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
41. Carol (1954)
> U.S. landfall: Point O’ Woods, Long Island, New York
> Adjusted cost: $5.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: N/A
> Deaths: 72
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Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
40. Isaias (2020)
> U.S. landfall: Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $5.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $4.8 billion
> Deaths: 18
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Source: Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons
39. Imelda (2019)
> U.S. landfall: Southeastern Texas
> Adjusted cost: $5.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $5.0 billion
> Deaths: 7
Source: Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons
38. Great Atlantic Hurricane (1944)
> U.S. landfall: Point Judith, Rhode Island
> Adjusted cost: $5.8 billion
> Unadjusted cost: N/A
> Deaths: 390
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
37. Long Island Express (1938)
> U.S. landfall: Long Island and Southern Connecticut
> Adjusted cost: $6.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: N/A
> Deaths: 600
Source: Space Frontiers / Archive Photos via Getty Images
36. Iniki (1992)
> U.S. landfall: Kauai, Hawaii
> Adjusted cost: $6.4 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $3.1 billion
> Deaths: 6
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Source: Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons
35. Frederic (1979)
> U.S. landfall: Dauphin Island, Alabama
> Adjusted cost: $6.9 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $1.7 billion
> Deaths: 12
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Source: navymedicine / Flickr
34. Celia (1970)
> U.S. landfall: North of Corpus Christi, Texas
> Adjusted cost: $7.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: N/A
> Deaths: 28
33. Gustav (2008)
> U.S. landfall: Louisiana coast
> Adjusted cost: $8.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $6.0 billion
> Deaths: 153
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Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
32. Sally (2020)
> U.S. landfall: Alabama coast; western Florida Panhandle
> Adjusted cost: $8.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $7.3 billion
> Deaths: 4
Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images
31. Isabel (2003)
> U.S. landfall: Near Drum Inlet, North Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $8.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $5.5 billion
> Deaths: 51
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Source: Public Domain via the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Wikimedia Commons
30. Alicia (1983)
> U.S. landfall: Southern Texas
> Adjusted cost: $8.8 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $3.0 billion
> Deaths: 21
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
29. Opal (1995)
> U.S. landfall: Pensacola Beach, Florida
> Adjusted cost: $8.9 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $4.7 billion
> Deaths: 63
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. Diane (1955)
> U.S. landfall: Outer Banks of North Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $9.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: N/A
> Deaths: 74
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Source: nasacommons / Flickr
27. Fran (1996)
> U.S. landfall: North Carolina coast
> Adjusted cost: $9.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $5.0 billion
> Deaths: 27
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
26. Georges (1998)
> U.S. landfall: Mississippi coast
> Adjusted cost: $10.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $6.0 billion
> Deaths: 615
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
25. Camille (1969)
> U.S. landfall: East of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
> Adjusted cost: $11.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $1.4 billion
> Deaths: 259
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
24. Floyd (1999)
> U.S. landfall: Near Cape Fear, North Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $11.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $6.5 billion
> Deaths: 87
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
23. Jeanne (2004)
> U.S. landfall: Southern end of Hutchinson Island; East coast of Florida
> Adjusted cost: $11.5 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $7.5 billion
> Deaths: 3,035
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Source: gsagi / iStock via Getty Images
22. Matthew (2016)
> U.S. landfall: Central coast of South Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $12.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $10.0 billion
> Deaths: 603
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
21. Betsy (1965)
> U.S. landfall: Key Largo, Florida
> Adjusted cost: $13.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $1.4 billion
> Deaths: 81
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
20. Allison (2001)
> U.S. landfall: Southwest of Galveston, near Freeport, Texas
> Adjusted cost: $14.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $8.5 billion
> Deaths: 55
19. Agnes (1972)
> U.S. landfall: Near Cape San Blas, Florida
> Adjusted cost: $14.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $2.1 billion
> Deaths: 128
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. Frances (2004)
> U.S. landfall: Southern end of Hutchinson Island, Florida
> Adjusted cost: $15.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $9.8 billion
> Deaths: 49
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Source: jonathansloane / Getty Images
17. Irene (2011)
> U.S. landfall: Near Cape Lookout, North Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $17.4 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $13.5 billion
> Deaths: 49
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
16. Hugo (1989)
> U.S. landfall: South Carolina coast near Charleston at Sullivans Island
> Adjusted cost: $21.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $9.0 billion
> Deaths: 61
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15. Charley (2004)
> U.S. landfall: Southwest coast of Florida near Cayo Costa, just north of Captiva
> Adjusted cost: $24.6 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $16.0 billion
> Deaths: 15
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
14. Laura (2020)
> U.S. landfall: Near Cameron, Louisiana
> Adjusted cost: $26.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $23.2 billion
> Deaths: 77
Source: Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
13. Rita (2005)
> U.S. landfall: Southwestern Louisiana just west of Johnson’s Bayou and just east of Sabine Pass
> Adjusted cost: $27.2 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $18.5 billion
> Deaths: 120
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Source: Sean Rayford / Getty Images News via Getty Images
12. Florence (2018)
> U.S. landfall: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $27.8 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $24.0 billion
> Deaths: 53
11. Wilma (2005)
> U.S. landfall: Southwestern Florida near Cape Romano
> Adjusted cost: $27.9 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $19.0 billion
> Deaths: 87
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Source: Breawna Smith / iStock via Getty Images
10. Michael (2018)
> U.S. landfall: Near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida Panhandle, southeast of Panama City
> Adjusted cost: $29.0 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $25.0 billion
> Deaths: 31
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
9. Ivan (2004)
> U.S. landfall: Just west of Gulf Shores, Alabama
> Adjusted cost: $31.6 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $20.5 billion
> Deaths: 57
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
8. Ike (2008)
> U.S. landfall: Along the north end of Galveston Island, Texas
> Adjusted cost: $40.2 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $30.0 billion
> Deaths: 195
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. Andrew (1992)
> U.S. landfall: South Miami-Dade County, Florida and then again west-southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana
> Adjusted cost: $55.9 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $27.0 billion
> Deaths: 26
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
6. Irma (2017)
> U.S. landfall: Cudjoe Key, the lower Florida Keys
> Adjusted cost: $59.5 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $50.0 billion
> Deaths: 123
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Source: Brandon Bell / Getty Images News via Getty Images
5. Ida (2021)
> U.S. landfall: Near Port Fourchon
> Adjusted cost: $78.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $73.6 billion
> Deaths: 107
Source: Michael Bocchieri / Getty Images News via Getty Images
4. Sandy (2012)
> U.S. landfall: Near Brigantine, New Jersey
> Adjusted cost: $81.9 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $65.0 billion
> Deaths: 233
Source: usdagov / Flickr
3. Maria (2017)
> U.S. landfall: Along the coasts of Humacao, Naguabo, and Ceiba municipalities in Puerto Rico
> Adjusted cost: $107.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $90.0 billion
> Deaths: 4,645
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Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Harvey (2017)
> U.S. landfall: Northern end of San Jose Island about 5 mi east of Rockport, Texas
> Adjusted cost: $148.8 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $125.0 billion
> Deaths: 103
Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
1. Katrina (2005)
> U.S. landfall: Miami-Dade County and Broward County, and again near Buras, Louisiana
> Adjusted cost: $186.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $125.0 billion
> Deaths: 1,833
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