Gustav is Going, Here Comes Hanna: 5 Costliest Tropical Storms
Hurricane Gustav hit the Louisiana coast with less fury than expected; the estimated $10 billion in insured losses is not as severe as that caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Separately, tropical storm Hanna, currently close to the Turks and Caicos islands, is still being monitored by U.S. officials. Tropical Storm Ike, is also gaining notice.
Folks are encouraged to give to those in need. Below, are the five most destructive hurricanes to strike the U.S., to date.
The Storm: Hurricane Katrina (August, 2005)
Estimated Property Damage: $81 Billion
Hurricane Katrina was the sixth-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. (It is classified as a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.) The storm caused severe damage in Mississippi and Louisiana. Today, 705 victims are still reported missing along with 1,836 confirmed fatalities.
The Storm: Hurricane Andrew (August, 1992)
Estimated Property Damage: $26.5 Billion
With the highest winds reaching 175 mph, Hurricane Andrew, spanned 12 days (August 16-28). This Category 5 storm struck the northwestern region of the Bahamas, southern Florida, and southwest Louisiana. In Dade County, Florida, alone, 117,000 homes were destroyed. The National Hurricane Center reported a total of 65 related fatalities.
The Storm: Hurricane Wilma (October, 2005)
Estimated Property Damage: $20.6 Billion
Wilma, a Category 3 hurricane led to 63 deaths and ran its course from October 15 to October 25. The highest winds reached 185 mph and the storm made its mark in areas like Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti, Florida and even Atlantic Canada. It was the twelfth hurricane of the season, which saw more than 2,200 total deaths.
The Storm: Hurricane Charley (August, 2004)
Estimated Property Damage: $15 Billion
This Category 4 storm caused a total of 19 deaths in the areas it hit, which included Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, North and South Carolina. Charley was the second-strongest hurricane to hit the Atlantic coastline since Hurricane Andrew, twelve years earlier. The storm destroyed and damaged, among other areas, many homes in the historic district of Punta Gorda, Florida.
The Storm: Ivan (September, 2004)
Estimated Property Damage: $14.2 Billion
Ivan, a Category 4 storm, tore through homes in Jamaica, Grenada, Grand Cayman Island and Cuba before making its way to the Gulf Coast. It killed a total of 124 people. Ivan’s effect on oil prices made headlines in 2004. The New York Times (NYT) reported a spike in oil prices after the storm to $47 a barrel!
