National Hurricane Survival Initiative

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Disaster Rankings

The Ten Most Costly Catastrophes, United States

Rank Date Peril Dollars at time of incident* Dollars in 2016*
1 Aug. 2005 Hurricane Katrina $41,100 $49,793
2 Sep. 2001 World Trade Center, Pentagon terrorist attacks $18,779 $24,987
3 Aug. 1992 Hurricane Andrew $15,500 $24,478
4 Oct.2012 Hurricane Sandy $18,750 $19,860
5 Jan.1994 Northridge, CA earthquake $12,500 $18,880
6 Sep.2008 Hurricane Ike $12,500 $14,036
7 Oct. 2005 Hurricane Wilma $10,300 $12,479
8 Aug.2004 Hurricane Charley $7,475 $9,348
9 Sep.2004 Hurricane Ivan $7, 110 $8,891
10 Apr.2011 Flooding, hail and wind including the tornadoes that struck Tuscaloosa, AL and other locations. $7,300 $7,875

*Data from the 2017 hurricane season is still being aggregated and will be posted when first available.
*Insured loss ($ millions)
Adjusted to inflation through 2016 dollars by ISO using the GDP implicit price deflator.
Source: ISO; Insurance Information Institute.

The Ten Most Costly Hurricanes, United States

Rank Date Location Hurricane Dollars at time of incident* Dollars in 2016*
1 Aug. 25-30, 2005 AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, TN Katrina $41,100 $49,793
2 Aug. 24-26, 1992 FL, LA Andrew $15,500 $24,478
3 Oct. 28-31, 2012 CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV Sandy $18,750 $19,860
4 Sep. 12-14, 2008  AR, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, OH, PA, TX  Ike $12,500 $14,036
5 Oct. 24, 2005 FL Wilma $10,300  $12,479
6 Aug. 13-14, 2004 FL, NC, SC Charley $7,475 $9,348
7 Sep. 15-21, 2004 AL, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV Ivan $7,110 $8,891
8 Sep. 17-22, 1989 GA, NC, PR, SC, VA, U.S. Virgin Islands Hugo $4,195 $7,260
9 Sep. 20-26, 2005 AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, TN, TX Rita $5,627 $6,817
10 Sep. 3-9, 2004 FL, GA, NC, NY, SC Frances $4,595 $5,746

*Estimated Insured loss ($ millions)
*Data from the 2017 hurricane season is still being aggregated and will be posted when first available.
Includes hurricanes occurring through 2016.
Adjusted for inflation dollars through 2016 by the federally administered National Flood Insurance Program.
Source: ISO; Insurance Information Institute.

Top 10 Deadliest Hurricanes in the USA

Rank Hurricane Year Cat. Deaths
1 TX (Galveston) 1900 4 8,000-12,000
2 FL (SE/Lake Okeechobee) 1928 4 2,500-3,000
3 KATRINA (LA,MS,AL,FL,GA) 2005 3 1,500
4 LA (Cheniere Caminanda) 1893 4 1,100-1,400
5 SC/GA (Sea Islands) 1893 3 1,000-2,000
6 GA/SC 1881 2 700
7 AUDREY (SW LA/N TX) 1957 4 416
8 FL (Keys) 1935 5 408
9 LA (Last Island) 1856 4 400
10 FL (Miami)/MS/AL/Pensacola 1926 4 372

*Data from the 2017 hurricane season is still being aggregated and will be posted when first available.
Source: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.

Storm Facts

rescued puppy

The safety of pets has become an increasing concern since the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. When preparing pets for an evacuation, make sure to have food, water and medicines for five days, medical and veterinary records, toys, blanket or bed, litter box and litter, ID attached to your pet, pet carrier and/or leash, current photos of pet with physical description and a container to carry these necessities.

- www.hsus.org and www.fldart.org

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