The cost of Ike, Guess how much.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Guess how much Ike caused in damage...

I will say 31 billion dollars...

Of course we really don't know what really happened. But I feel that it won't be close to the cost of Katrina.

[Category 5]

Guest how much? I think "Guess" is what you were looking for

25-30 billion.

[Cyclone1]

Uhmm....


"Guest" how much?

Anyway... $16 billion.

[Extremeweatherguy]

I'll go on the high side and guess ~$50 Billion. With such an incredibly large area impacted, I think this number is very realistic. We saw major damage to downtown Houston, wind damage well inland, flooding rains well inland, an extreme storm surge, major damage to Galveston and surrounding communities, major damage to Beaumont, and tidal flooding as far east as the Florida panhandle. There was also damage caused by Ike in the islands, Cuba and Key West.

[Cyclenall]

Matt, work on the spelling of the words "Guess" and "Surprise".

My guess of total damage from Ike is $26 billion.

[TSmith274]

I'd guess about 12-15 billion. Nothing will eclipse Katrina... she ruined almost 250,000 homes and thousands of businesses. Katrina was a very unique situation.

[vbhoutex]

If I heard it correctly earlier today, one amount being stated was $81 Billion. Even though I sit here in the middle it, that does sound high to me. I would have guessed $35-50 Billion.

[gsgs]

$15.3B

(estimate of the number which will be given by Wikipedia later)

-----edit--------
hmm, Wikipedia actually gives $8B-$12B so I'm down to $10B

it depends, what you include in "cost"
damaged values ?
work required for repair ?
cost of evacuation ?
loss of time ?
loss of sleep ?
cost of psychological problems induced by Ike ?
cost of loss (win of gain ?) of trust in institutions due to Ike-related
official statements ?
cost of tax-losses due to emigration caused by Ike ?
cost of distrust in chosing Texas-residence due to increased fear of Hurricanes ?
cost of increased premiums due to increased estimates of future Hurricane damage ?

[gubyw1]

I would say around $50 billion. Going to be very painful to oil business too.

[somethingfunny]

I think it will be a close race with Wilma for 3rd most destructive US storm.

[gsgs]

wikipedia now up to $27B damage and 33 deaths in USA

[DESTRUCTION5]

Considering they have yet to find a few towns I think 50 Billion will be conservative..

[gsgs]

I assume they did consider that (and everything else)

[fasterdisaster]

I'll say 35B

[HurricaneRobert]

I'd guess about 12-15 billion. Nothing will eclipse Katrina... she ruined almost 250,000 homes and thousands of businesses. Katrina was a very unique situation.

However, Louisiana has only 4.3 million people - that's less than in the Houston area alone.

[CrazyC83]

I'd say about $32 billion for all areas:

Caribbean - $3 billion
Texas - $23 billion
Louisiana - $4 billion
Other coastal states - $200 million
Inland states - $1.8 billion

[gsgs]

estimates here are :
31,25-30,16,50,26,12-15,35-50 ; average=29.5 billion Dollar ,

which is also exactly what Wikipedia gives as estimate

[CrazyC83]

estimates here are :
31,25-30,16,50,26,12-15,35-50 ; average=29.5 billion Dollar ,

which is also exactly what Wikipedia gives as estimate

The $29.5B includes Cuba, where the total estimate for both Gustav and Ike was $5B (split the difference for now).