The 6 Most Expensive Natural Disasters Involving Coastal Storms
Flooding is a concern all across the United States, but the risk gets particularly higher the closer you get to either coast. Of the top 10 most expensive natural disasters in our nation, 6 of them were caused by coastal storms. Let's take a look at these 6 events:
1. Hurricane Katrina - August 2005
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $151 Billion
3. Hurricane Andrew - August 1992
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $33 Billion
This Category 2 hurricane made landfall in Texas, as the largest by size Atlantic hurricane on record, causing considerable storm surge in coastal Texas and significant wind and flooding damage in many other surrounding states. Severe gasoline shortages occurred in the southeast United States due to damaged oil platforms, storage tanks, pipelines and off-line refineries.
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $26 Billion
This Category 3 hurricane made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, with significant wind, storm surge, and flooding damage in coastal Alabama and Florida panhandle, along with wind/flood damage in many other coastal and inland states.
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $23 Billion
This Category 3 hurricane hit Southwest Florida, resulting in strong damaging winds and major flooding across southeastern Florida. Prior to landfall, Wilma was a Category 5 recorded the lowest pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.
With billions of dollars on the line, it is important that all coastal cities (and even those inland) have a flood mitigation plan in place. Included in that plan should be an easily stored flood protection product such as our polypropylene sand bags. Big Bags USA® flood control systems are the fastest deployed barrier anywhere! Give us a call at 800-337-0537 for more information about how we can help you be prepared for flooding.
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CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $151 Billion
The Category 3 hurricane initially impacted the U.S. as a Category 1 near Miami, FL, then as a strong Category 3 along the eastern Louisiana-Western Mississippi coastlines, resulting in severe storm surge damage (maximum surge probably exceeded 30 feet) along the Louisiana-Mississippi-Alabama coasts, wind damage and the failure of parts of the levee system in New Orleans. Inland effects included high winds and some flooding in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Georgia.
2. Hurricane Sandy - October 2012
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $67 Billion
Extensive damage across several northwestern states, particularly New York and New Jersey, was caused by high wind and coastal storm surge. Damage from wind, rain and heavy snow also extended more broadly to other states, as Sandy merged with a developing Nor'easter. Sandy's impact on major population centers caused widespread interruption to critical water/electrical services and also caused 159 deaths. Sandy also caused the New York Stock Exchange to close for two consevutive business days, which last happened in 1888 due to a major winter storm.
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CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $46 Billion
This Category 4 hurricane hit Florida and Louisiana, with high winds damaging or destroying over 125,000 homes.
4. Hurricane Ike - September 2008
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $33 Billion
This Category 2 hurricane made landfall in Texas, as the largest by size Atlantic hurricane on record, causing considerable storm surge in coastal Texas and significant wind and flooding damage in many other surrounding states. Severe gasoline shortages occurred in the southeast United States due to damaged oil platforms, storage tanks, pipelines and off-line refineries.
5. Hurricane Ivan - September 2004
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $26 Billion
This Category 3 hurricane made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, with significant wind, storm surge, and flooding damage in coastal Alabama and Florida panhandle, along with wind/flood damage in many other coastal and inland states.
6. Hurricane Wilma - October 2005
CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $23 Billion
This Category 3 hurricane hit Southwest Florida, resulting in strong damaging winds and major flooding across southeastern Florida. Prior to landfall, Wilma was a Category 5 recorded the lowest pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.
With billions of dollars on the line, it is important that all coastal cities (and even those inland) have a flood mitigation plan in place. Included in that plan should be an easily stored flood protection product such as our polypropylene sand bags. Big Bags USA® flood control systems are the fastest deployed barrier anywhere! Give us a call at 800-337-0537 for more information about how we can help you be prepared for flooding.
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
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