Welcome to the Extreme Weather Sourcebook
Economic & Other Societal Impacts Related to Hurricanes, Floods, Tornadoes, Lightning, & Other Weather Phenomena

Hurricanes 1900 - 2006 (Sources)

In most states, hurricanes occur infrequently. Yet, when a hurricane hits, the losses can be catastrophic. Average annual losses are not a meaningful measure of damage from rare but potentially catastrophic events. The total damage potential is of greater concern and therefore is emphasized in our presentation of hurricane damages. The "Total Damages" column presents hurricane loss totals adjusted for inflation to $2006 U.S. Also, since placing greater assets in the path of a hurricane will cause greater losses, we have adjusted hurricane loss totals for yearly changes in wealth. Therefore, the "Total Wealth Adjusted Damages" column presents hurricane loss totals adjusted for inflation and wealth to $2006 U.S. Links to more information on adjustment methods, appropriate interpretation, and original data sources can be found on the Data & Methodology page.

Click here for state ranking by number of years with hurricane damage. Click here for a list of the "Top 30 Damaging Hurricanes in the Continental U.S."

By Rank *Rank assigned by "Total Damages" State Rank* Total Damages (millions 2006 US$) Total Wealth Adjusted Damages (millions 2006 US$) U.S. Damage Total $328,202.17 $497,380.56 Florida 1 $126,127.11 $171,828.30 Louisiana 2 $71,159.14 $93,480.39 Mississippi 3 $37,457.38 $48,414.22 Texas 4 $31,007.77 $54,122.27 North Carolina 5 $24,711.53 $43,911.31 South Carolina 6 $11,522.85 $17,757.88 Alabama 7 $5,981.51 $10,863.14 New York 8 $5,334.58 $14,767.26 Pennsylvania 9 $5,287.83 $11,081.90 Massachusetts 10 $2,654.06 $7,712.39 Rhode Island 11 $2,390.48 $8,970.44 Connecticut 12 $2,183.42 $8,667.60 Virginia 13 $1,494.22 $4,226.90 Maryland 14 $339.30 $640.08 Georgia 15 $292.88 $566.19 New Jersey 16 $127.23 $168.25 Maine 17 $63.38 $100.34 Delware 18 $33.65 $33.65 West Virginia 19 $23.31 $49.54 New Hampshire 20 $5.52 $8.08 Ohio 21 $4.99 $10.46

Alphabetical *Rank assigned by "Total Damages" State Rank* Total Damages (millions 2006 US$) Total Wealth Adjusted Damages (millions 2006 US$) U.S. Damage Total $328,202.17 $497,380.56 Alabama 7 $5,981.51 $10,863.14 Connecticut 12 $2,183.42 $8,667.60 Delware 18 $33.65 $33.65 Florida 1 $126,127.11 $171,828.30 Georgia 15 $292.88 $566.19 Louisiana 2 $71,159.14 $93,480.39 Maine 17 $63.38 $100.34 Maryland 14 $339.30 $640.08 Massachusetts 10 $2,654.06 $7,712.39 Mississippi 3 $37,457.38 $48,414.22 New Hampshire 20 $5.52 $8.08 New Jersey 16 $127.23 $168.25 New York 8 $5,334.58 $14,767.26 North Carolina 5 $24,711.53 $43,911.31 Ohio 21 $4.99 $10.46 Pennsylvania 9 $5,287.83 $11,081.90 Rhode Island 11 $2,390.48 $8,970.44 South Carolina 6 $11,522.85 $17,757.88 Texas 4 $31,007.77 $54,122.27 Virginia 13 $1,494.22 $4,226.90 West Virginia 19 $23.31 $49.54