America’s most expensive natural disasters in recent decades
Over the past several decades, the United States has been plagued by a variety of natural disasters that have caused immense damage and devastation. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there have been 403 weather and climate disasters since 1980 that have resulted in total damages exceeding $2.915 trillion.
Hurricanes have been the most costly disasters, with Hurricane Katrina topping the list at a staggering $201.3 billion. This devastating hurricane hit the U.S. in 2005, causing severe storm surge damage, wind damage, and the failure of parts of the levee system in New Orleans. Hurricane Harvey, which struck in 2017, comes in second on the list with an estimated cost of $160 billion. This Category 4 hurricane caused historic flooding across Houston and surrounding areas.
The third-costliest disaster on the NCEI list is 2022 Hurricane Ian, which had an estimated cost of $119.6 billion. This hurricane made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida, as a Category 4 storm before re-emerging over the Atlantic and causing additional damage in South Carolina.
Other hurricanes that have made the top 10 list include Maria, Sandy, Ida, Helene, Irma, and Andrew. Additionally, a U.S. Drought/Heat Wave in 1988 is listed as the 10th-costliest disaster on the list, with an estimated cost of $54.6 billion.
While wildfires have been devastating parts of California in recent years, they do not make it into the top 10 of the NCEI’s list. The costliest wildfire listed is the Western Wildfires, California Firestorm in 2018, with an estimated cost of $30 billion.
The Camp fire in 2018 tops the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s lists for the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in the state. The January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires have also caused significant destruction, with thousands of structures destroyed.
AccuWeather estimates that the damage and economic loss associated with the recent California wildfires could be as high as $150 billion. In comparison, the 2023 Maui wildfires in Hawaii had an estimated cost of $5.7 billion, while 2024 Hurricane Helene had a cost estimate of $225 billion to $250 billion.
Overall, natural disasters have had a significant impact on the United States over the past several decades, causing immense damage and costing billions of dollars in recovery efforts. It is crucial for communities to be prepared for these disasters and to take steps to mitigate their impact in the future.
