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The 10 Most Expensive Hurricanes to Ever Strike the United States

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By Susan Meyer Info icon
Updated May 23, 2025
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance
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How past storms shattered records

Summer means carefree days of sunshine, beach trips and family vacations — but in recent years it also brings concerns about extreme weather. Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and will run until November 30.

The NOAA recently released their predictions for the 2025 hurricane season, which they believe to have a 60% chance of being above average. They predict a range of 13 - 19 named storms, with 3 - 5 of these storms becoming major hurricanes.[1]

As we prepare for what the 2025 hurricane season has in store, let’s look back at the most devastating hurricanes to have hit the U.S. in its history. These are ranked by the dollar amount of damage each storm caused.

1. Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, flooding approximately 80% of the city. The storm resulted in roughly 1,800 deaths and inflicted $125 billion in total damages. Beyond the widespread destruction of the low-lying city of New Orleans, Katrina also severely impacted oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and caused major damage throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Insurance providers paid out billions in claims related to both residential and commercial losses.[2]

Katrina by the numbers

Year: 2005

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $201.3 billion

Deaths: 1,800

2. Hurricane Harvey

In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck Texas and Louisiana, causing an estimated $160 billion in damage—placing it alongside Hurricane Katrina as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. A significant portion of the destruction came from record-breaking rainfall and subsequent flooding in the Houston area. Many of the affected neighborhoods were not identified as flood-prone, leaving homeowners and businesses without flood coverage, as standard home insurance policies do not include flood protection. As a result, uninsured losses were estimated to reach as high as $30 billion.[3]

Harvey by the numbers

Year: 2017

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $160 billion

Deaths: 100

3. Hurricane Ian

In September 2022, Hurricane Ian moved across the Florida peninsula as a Category 5 hurricane and then made landfall again, moving through South Carolina and North Carolina as a Category 1 storm. Ian is one of only four Category 5 storms to have made landfall in the U.S. with maximum winds greater than 155 mph. Ian caused widespread damage and destruction along its path.[4] At the time it struck, it was also the second-deadliest storm to strike the continental U.S. after Katrina in 2005; however, it would later be surpassed by Hurricane Helene.

Ian by the numbers

Year: 2022

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $119.6 billion

Deaths: 161

4. Hurricane Maria

In September 2017, a powerful Category 5 hurricane ravaged the northeastern Caribbean, severely impacting islands such as Dominica, Saint Croix and Puerto Rico. The storm claimed thousands of lives, making it the deadliest named hurricane of the 21st century. The destruction was widespread, devastating homes, farmland, and critical infrastructure. In Puerto Rico, the aftermath left 95% of residents without electricity, cell service, or access to clean drinking water. The storm triggered nearly 300,000 insurance claims and over $100 billion in damages.[5]

Maria by the numbers

Year: 2017

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $115.2 billion 

Deaths: Over 4,000

5. Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy—also referred to as Superstorm Sandy—swept through eight countries from the Caribbean to Canada in October 2012, leaving a trail of destruction. In the United States alone, it caused $88.5 billion in damages across 24 states, with particularly severe impacts in New York City and New Jersey.[6] The storm marked a turning point for the insurance industry, prompting a reassessment of hurricane risk along the East Coast.

Sandy by the numbers

Year: 2012

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $88.5 billion 

Deaths: 147

6. Hurricane Ida

The sixth costliest hurricane to hit the U.S. made landfall in Louisiana in August of 2021. Unlike with Hurricane Katrina, the levees in New Orleans held through Ida; however, infrastructure damage throughout the city was still significant and millions were left without power. Ida continued north across the Eastern United States, causing agricultural and industrial damage in its wake. It led to extensive flooding in New York City, which led to the shutdown of much of the city’s transportation system.[7]

Ida by the numbers

Year: 2021

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $84.5 billion 

Deaths: 112

7. Hurricane Helene

Making landfall in the Florida Big Bend region in September 2024 as a Category 4 storm, Helene brought catastrophic inland flooding, extreme winds and a powerful storm surge. In advance of Helene’s landfall, a state of emergency was declared in parts of Florida and Georgia. Some of the greatest damage from the storm came not from its storm surge but from rainfall-triggered flooding in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In addition to more than $78 billion in damages, the storm tragically had a very high fatality rate of over 250 people.[8]

Helene by the numbers

Year: 2024

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $78.7 billion 

Deaths: 250

8. Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma was a powerful and destructive Category 5 storm that struck in September 2017. It first made landfall in the northeastern Caribbean, severely impacting islands such as Barbuda, Saint Martin and the Virgin Islands before moving on to the Florida Keys and mainland Florida. With sustained winds of up to 185 mph, Irma was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded and its vast size prompted one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history. The storm caused widespread destruction to homes, infrastructure and power grids, resulting in over 130 deaths and an estimated $64 billion in damages.[9]

Irma by the numbers

Year: 2017

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $64 billion

Deaths: 134

9. Hurricane Andrew

The only storm on our list to have happened prior to the year 2000, Hurricane Andrew was a Category 5 hurricane that struck in August 1992, becoming one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history at the time. It made landfall in the Bahamas before hitting South Florida, particularly devastating the Miami-Dade area, and then continued across the Gulf of Mexico to make a second U.S. landfall in Louisiana. With wind speeds reaching 165 mph, Andrew destroyed over 63,000 homes and caused severe infrastructure damage. The storm resulted in 65 fatalities and caused an estimated $60 billion in damages.[10]

Andrew by the numbers

Year: 1992

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $60.5 billion 

Deaths: 65

10. Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike was a large and powerful Category 2 hurricane that made landfall in September 2008, striking the Texas Gulf Coast near Galveston. Before reaching the U.S., Ike caused widespread damage in the Caribbean, particularly in Haiti, Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Despite not reaching Category 5 intensity, Ike’s massive size and storm surge inflicted catastrophic flooding and wind damage across a broad area. In the U.S., it caused 113 deaths and more than $40 billion in damages. The storm overwhelmed coastal defenses, destroyed homes and businesses, and led to long-term power outages and infrastructure challenges across several states.[11]

Ike by the numbers

Year: 2008

Costs (adjusted for inflation): $43.2 billion

Deaths: 113

Why are the most expensive hurricanes recent?

You might note that more than half of the most expensive hurricanes of all time have occurred within the last decade and all but one of them have occurred in the last twenty years. Why is that? 

  • Climate change: Warming oceans lead to more frequent and powerful hurricanes. In addition, rising sea levels due to climate change lead to higher storm surges. The ocean level has risen over four inches since 1993.[12]
  • More infrastructure: Besides having more powerful storms to destroy things, we also have more expensive things to destroy. More housing and industry have been built along the coasts and in areas that could be flooded during hurricanes. 

 

What to do if you’re in an area where a hurricane might hit?

Now, before hurricane season starts and definitely before a hurricane is forecasted to come your way, is the time to take steps to prepare. 

  • Research both what your current risk is and how to track and be aware of any storms coming your way.
  • Make sure your insurance policy is up to date! If a hurricane is declared, there is usually a moratorium on opening or updating your insurance policy. Make sure you have the coverage you need now. 
  • Prepare your home. Make any necessary changes now, such as keeping trees trimmed, fixing your home’s exterior, and making any updates like storm shutters that will help protect you in the event of a hurricane.
  • Make an emergency kit. This can include water, first aid, non-perishable food, flashlights and other supplies that could come in handy in case of a storm or other emergency.
  • Make your evacuation plan. Talk to your family about where you will go and how you will get there so you’re ready if evacuation orders come through.

Hopefully the 2025 hurricane season does not turn out to be as active as predicted, but if you live anywhere on or near the Atlantic coast, it’s important to be prepared.

Sources

  1. NOAA predicts above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. [NOAA]

  2. Hurricane Katrina: Challenges for the Community. [NIH]

  3. Hurricane Harvey. [National Weather Service]

  4. Hurricane Ian.[National Weather Service]

  5. Hurricane Maria 'killed 4,600 in Puerto Rico'. [BBC]

  6. After Sandy: Rebuilding & Recovery. [National Ocean Service]

  7. Hurricane Ida. [NOAA]

  8. Hurricane Helene. [NOAA]

  9. Hurricane Irma. [NOAA]

  10. Hurricane Andrew Fact Sheet. [Insurance Information Institute]

  11. Hurricane Ike. [Harris County Flood Control District]

  12. How climate change makes hurricanes more destructive. [EDF]