NORFOLK, Va. — Here’s the list of the top five costliest hurricanes in United States history, starting at number five.
Number five is Hurricane Sandy. Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 29, 2012, and caused around $89 billion in damage.
The fourth costliest hurricane is Hurricane Maria. Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017 and left behind more than $114 billion worth of damage to the U.S. territory.
Hurricane Ian is the most recent storm on the top five, and it passed both Sandy and Maria, sitting in third place. Ian made landfall in southwest Florida and another landfall in South Carolina in 2022. The combined damage cost was nearly $119 billion.
Second place goes to Hurricane Harvey. Southeastern Texas was inundated with flooding. Some places accumulated over 50 inches of rain in a span of eight days. Harvey caused around $159 billion in damage.
And in the top spot is one of the most infamous American hurricanes: Hurricane Katrina. According to the National Weather Service, Katrina is considered one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. This storm rounds out the top 5 list with $200 billion worth of damage.
All of these costs have been adjusted using the 2024 Consumer Price Index.
This is also a good reminder that hurricane impacts occur outside of the cone of uncertainty so always check with your local meteorologists to understand the impacts to your area.
For more hurricane tidbits or to view our 2024 Hurricane Guide, visit the 13News Now Hurricane Center.