Costliest Natural Disasters
Katrina
Hurricane Katrina, 2005Estimated total cost: $81 billion*The costliest natural disaster in U.S. history and one of the deadliest hurricanes ever. The storm caused severe damage along the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas. The most significant destruction occurring after the levees broke in New Orleans and nearly 80 percent of the city flooded. The worst property damage occurred in other coastal areas, such as Mississippi beach towns. More than 1,800 people died in the hurricane and floods.
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*costs throughout are not adjusted for inflation Sources: Fema, NOAA, St. Petersburg Times, The Museum of the City of San Francisco, The New York Times
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