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10 Worst Natural Disasters to Strike the U S

Hurricanes top the list but heat waves and floods also took steep human and financial tolls

Damage from Hurricane Katrina in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. ParkerDeen/Getty Images After a relatively quiet start to the hurricane season, storm activity is picking up. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is maintaining its prediction for an . Forecasters expect several atmospheric and oceanic conditions to remain in place for the rest of 2022 that could slightly enhance hurricane activity through Nov. 30, when the Atlantic hurricane season officially ends. The projection comes on the heels of 20 weather and climate disasters that hit the U.S. in 2021, each causing at least $1 billion in damage, according to NOAA. These events included one drought, two floods, 11 severe storms, four tropical cyclones, one wildfire and one winter storm. Since 1980, there have been 323 weather and climate disasters with damages at or above $1 billion, totaling an inflation-adjusted $2.195 trillion. Despite the above-average number of disasters in 2021, only one found a place among the costliest ever to strike the United States: Hurricane Ida, one of just three hurricanes in recorded history to make landfall in Louisiana with sustained winds of 150 mph.
Here’s a look at the 10 natural disasters that caused the most monetary damage, based on data from NOAA. All dollar figures have been adjusted for inflation. Jump to Section

1 Hurricane Katrina

ROBERT GALBRAITH/AFP via Getty Images When: August 2005 Estimated cost: $180 billion What first made landfall north of Miami as a Category 1 storm strengthened to a Category 3 once it hit the Gulf Coast states. Hurricane Katrina's fury caused a rise in seawater levels, wind damage and the failure of the New Orleans’ levee system, resulting in more than 1,800 deaths and displacing more than 1 million people.

2 Hurricane Harvey

Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images When: August 2017 Estimated cost: $143.8 billion The Category 4 hurricane caused historic flooding across Houston and surrounding areas. More than 30 inches of rain fell on 6.9 million people causing over 100 deaths, displacing more than 30,000 people and destroying more than 200,000 homes and businesses. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

3 Hurricane Maria

HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images When: September 2017 Estimated cost: $103.5 billion Puerto Rico faced the greatest amount of damage from Hurricane Maria. The island experienced widespread collapse of its transportation, agriculture, communication and energy infrastructure. The exact death toll caused by the storm is unknown. NOAA estimated nearly 3,000 deaths, but Harvard researchers put the number anywhere between 800 and 8,500.

4 Hurricane Sandy

Mario Tama/Getty Images When: October 2012 Estimated cost: $80 billion The late October storm brought wind, rain and heavy snow to the Northeast when it merged with a developing nor'easter. High winds and storm surge caused the most damage to New York and New Jersey's water and electrical services, resulting in an estimated 159 deaths. The New York Stock Exchange closed for two consecutive business days for the first time since 1888.

5 Hurricane Ida

Sean Rayford/Getty Images When: August 2021 Estimated cost: $76.5 billion Ida is just one of three hurricanes in recorded history to make landfall in Louisiana with sustained winds of 150 mph. The storm heavily damaged the state's energy infrastructure leaving millions without electricity for nearly a week. In Grand Isle, Louisiana, 100% of its homes suffered damage and almost 40% were nearly-to-completely destroyed. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers >

6 Hurricane Irma

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images When: September 2017 Estimated cost: $57.5 billion One-quarter of the homes in the Florida Keys were destroyed and two-thirds were severely damaged from the severe wind and storm surge of the Category 4 hurricane. This after Irma, then a Category 5, devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nearly 100 people were killed as a result of the storm. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe

8 U S drought heat wave

AP Photo/John Gaps III When: Summer 1988 Estimated cost: $54.3 billion From June through August 1988 a drought across a large portion of the U.S. severely impacted farmers and other agricultural industries. NOAA put the official estimate of fatalities at 454, but deaths indirectly related to heat stress may have hit 5,000.

9 Midwest flooding

PETER NEWCOMB/AFP via Getty Images When: Summer 1993 Estimated cost: $41.7 billion Heavy rains and thunderstorms from late June to mid-August caused extensive damage to agriculture, infrastructure, homes and businesses. Many rivers set records for flood heights and an estimated 48 people died.

10 Hurricane Ike

Mark Wilson/Getty Images When: September 2008 Estimated cost: $39 billion No Atlantic hurricane on record has been larger in size than Ike, which generated considerable storm surge along the Texas coast. High winds and flooding extended across 10 other states. Gas shortages resulted from damage to oil platforms, pipelines and refineries. There were more than 100 deaths tied to the hurricane.

Before disaster strikes How older adults can prepare now br

Review, practice and refresh your plan, supplies and important documents every six months: Plan to stay at home for at least two weeks or evacuate. If you need help evacuating, determine who will help you and make a plan with them. If you need electricity to operate medical devices or store medicine, make a back-up plan. In case of fire, identify two ways to escape every room and plan for the help you may need. Review your renters or home insurance to make sure your policy meets your property and disaster coverage needs. Make an and plan how you'll reach them, including when communications may be disrupted. Use an to prepare what you'll need in your home, car or when you evacuate. Keep on hand at least 30 days of medication and extra assistive items such as a cane or eyeglasses. Get batteries to power devices. Use a checklist to locate, collect and copy important documents such as identification cards, financial, legal and medical papers you'll need to recover. Store a list of up-to-date medical information that includes any conditions, allergies, medications, prescription records, doctors and insurance cards. Source: Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. ALSO OF INTEREST AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS