Special Report

The Most Destructive Storms in US History

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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.

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

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

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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47. Isaac (2012)
> U.S. landfall: Southeastern Louisiana
> Adjusted cost: $3.5 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $2.8 billion
> Deaths: 41

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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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

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

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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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

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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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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

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

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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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

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36. Iniki (1992)
> U.S. landfall: Kauai, Hawaii
> Adjusted cost: $6.4 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $3.1 billion
> Deaths: 6

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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

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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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

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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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

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

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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27. Fran (1996)
> U.S. landfall: North Carolina coast
> Adjusted cost: $9.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $5.0 billion
> Deaths: 27

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26. Georges (1998)
> U.S. landfall: Mississippi coast
> Adjusted cost: $10.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $6.0 billion
> Deaths: 615

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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

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24. Floyd (1999)
> U.S. landfall: Near Cape Fear, North Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $11.3 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $6.5 billion
> Deaths: 87

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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22. Matthew (2016)
> U.S. landfall: Central coast of South Carolina
> Adjusted cost: $12.1 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $10.0 billion
> Deaths: 603

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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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

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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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

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

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

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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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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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

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9. Ivan (2004)
> U.S. landfall: Just west of Gulf Shores, Alabama
> Adjusted cost: $31.6 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $20.5 billion
> Deaths: 57

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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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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

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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5. Ida (2021)
> U.S. landfall: Near Port Fourchon
> Adjusted cost: $78.7 billion
> Unadjusted cost: $73.6 billion
> Deaths: 107

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

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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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

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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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