Most Damaging Hurricanes

[JtSmarts]

It is amazing to look at the most damaging tropical systems and see that many of them have occured in the past 2 years.

Unadjusted List

1. Katrina 80-200 Billion (2005)
2. Andrew 26 Billion (1992)
3. Charley 15 Billion (2004)
4. Ivan 14 Billion (17??) (2004)
5. Wilma 12 Billion (2005)
6. Rita 9 Billion (2005)
7. Frances 8.9 Billion (2004)
8. Hugo 7 Billion (1989)
9. Jeanne 6.9 Billion (2004)
10. Allison 5 Billion (2001)
11. Floyd 4.5 Billion (1999)
12. Isabel 3.3 Billion (2003)
13. Fran 3.1 Billion (1996)
14. Opal 3.0 Billion (1995)
15. Frederick 2.3 Billion (1979)
16. Dennis 2.2 Billion (2005)
17. Agnes 2.1 Billion (1972)
18. Alicia 2.0 Billion (1983)
19. Bob 1.5 Billion (1991)
20. Juan 1.4 Billion (1985)



Adjusted List

1. Katrina 80-200 Billion (2005)
2. Andrew 43 Billion (1992)
3. Charley 15 Billion (2004)
4. Ivan 14 Billion (17??) (2004)
5. Hugo 12.3 Billion (1989)
6. Wilma 12.2 Billion (2005)
7. Agnes 11.3 Billion (1972)
8. Betsy 10.8 Billion (1965)
9. Rita 9 Billion (2005)
10. Frances 8.9 Billion (2004)
11. Camille 8.8 Billion (1969)
12. Diane 7 Billion (1955)
13. Jeanne 6.9 Billion (2004)
14. Frederick 6.3 Billion (1979)
15. 1938 6 Billion (1938)
16. Allison 5.8 Billion (2001)
17. Floyd 5.7 Billion (1999)
18. 1944 5.8 Billion (1944)
19. Fran 4.5 Billion (1996)
20. Alicia 4.4 Billion (1983)

WOW

All information taken from National Hurricane Center website
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastcost.shtml

[HURAKAN]

If I'm correct, it's interesting but not surprising, to see Alison as the only tropical storm in the adjusted list!

[ROCK]

They were all tropical storms once.... but it seems Allison is the only TS to make landfall. Most of her damage was in the medical center and Dt area.

[Derek Ortt]

the adjusted list is incorrect

Only inflation was acocunted for. You also have to take into consideration the increase in population and wealth. Taking those two into consideration yields no real trend in hurricane damage since 1900

[skysummit]

Oh boy...here we go again. Let the debate begin

[HURAKAN]

Oh boy...here we go again. Let the debate begin

[cheezyWXguy]

yep here it comes

[ROCK]

the adjusted list is incorrect

Only inflation was acocunted for. You also have to take into consideration the increase in population and wealth. Taking those two into consideration yields no real trend in hurricane damage since 1900

Derek, I would agree to some extent for the earlier storms. Now for Katrina, Rita and some of the more recent storms, I would have to say those numbers are pretty close....Then again, the cost of Katrina and Rita is probably still climbing. Won't be for a few more years before you can put a number to those two.

[Jim Cantore]

DING DING DING Round one

[Derek Ortt]

even with adjustment, Katrina is going to be #1 when all is said and done. What it did is slightly worse than the 1926 Miami/Pensacola hurricane did (that one caused about 80 adjusted in Miami, and 10-15 in Pensacola)

[Extremeweatherguy]

yes Katrina will still be number one with adjustment (for now). My fear is that with continued coastal development that a hit from a Cat. 4/5 on Houston/Galveston, another on N.O., or a hit on Miami or NYC could be much worse. Katrina will likely be topped within 30 years. Scary to think it is possible.

[Jim Cantore]

yes Katrina will still be number one with adjustment (for now). My fear is that with continued coastal development that a hit from a Cat. 4/5 on Houston/Galveston, another on N.O., or a hit on Miami or NYC could be much worse. Katrina will likely be topped within 30 years. Scary to think it is possible.

Aint that the truth

[ROCK]

I agree EWG. West End of Galveston is crazy right now. Homes that once went for 100k are now worth 200k. Developement all over the place. As I was leaving the west end after boarding up the family beach house for Rita, I basically said good bye to every house out there. I was telling the wife see that million dollar home it won't be here Sunday....luckly didn't come out that way.....

[Ixolib]

yes Katrina will still be number one with adjustment (for now). My fear is that with continued coastal development that a hit from a Cat. 4/5 on Houston/Galveston, another on N.O., or a hit on Miami or NYC could be much worse. Katrina will likely be topped within 30 years. Scary to think it is possible.

Lots of folks still concentrate on the big cities. But the damage across 90 miles of Mississippi coastline surely contributed greatly - if not majorly - to Katrina's toll of 80+ billion. Collectively, a storm could hit "less popular" areas (i.e., MS Gulf Coast) and STILL end up costing more in damage than it might if it hit one of the major population centers listed above...

[Derek Ortt]

200,000 for a house on a barrier island? In MIA, you cannot buy a condo for that price

[Ixolib]

200,000 for a house on a barrier island? In MIA, you cannot buy a condo for that price

True, but the condo will probably still be standing since most are poured concrete and steel - so the overall loss would be less.

[Derek Ortt]

the average condo is about 300K here. The average house is over 400K. Maybe MIA is not the place for me to sae my $$

[Stratosphere747]

Not sure where that 200,000 house in Galveston is. I'll tell you it's not on the beach. The latest development on the West end has condos in the 1000 to 1500sq ft range going for over 500k.

[MGC]

I predict Katrina will be overtaken before the warm phase of the Atlantic finishes in the next 20 or so years. I just have a feeling a major hurricane is going to impact the Mia/Fll area then cross the GOM and hit Hou/Gal area. Just a matter of time. It will have to be a monster hurricane like Katrina. Just think if Katrina had hit Mia as a major then did what it did here. The parade of big buck hurricanes is just starting. Massive coastal development seems unending and the trend of intense hurricanes don't mix......MGC

[Ixolib]

...Maybe MIA is not the place for me to save my $$

I heard that!!!

Absolutely, SEFL is a beautiful area though, so with the bad (cost of living) comes all the good (everything else!!). We're preparing to move to St. Petersburg on the other coast (wife's already there) and will be faced with similar housing/COL costs. Not quite at Miami levels, but certainly greater than what we're used to here on the MS coast...