Living through a natural disaster often tops the list of life-altering events for homeowners, especially those who tragically lose their homes entirely and must rebuild from the ground up. Communities rebuilding after the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, and those affected by the more recent wildfires in Palisades and Altadena—estimated to have caused more than $250 billion in damages, according to the Los Angeles Times—know all too well the effect Mother Nature can have on daily life.
To explore the costliest natural disasters that have affected homeowners, the research team at This Old House has compiled a list of the top 10 most expensive severe weather events over the past 25 years (2000–2024) using data from the National Hurricane Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Public Radio (NPR), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We also spoke to experts about advice they can share with homeowners to prepare for these events and find the resources they need if they’re affected.
Homeowners can weatherproof their homes for extreme weather by upgrading to impact windows, hardening their homes, installing hurricane shutters, and purchasing backup generators. Depending on the most common severe weather events that occur in your area, such as hurricanes or tropical storms, the high upfront cost of hurricane-rated windows is a smart investment that can protect you from the cost of replacing your home’s windows after storms. Many of these measures also help keep your family and home safer during severe weather.
Key Takeaways
- Hurricane Katrina remains the costliest natural disaster for U.S. homeowners, with more than $160 billion in damages, most of it from catastrophic flooding that destroyed tens of thousands of homes in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, according to the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
- Hurricanes are the most financially devastating natural disaster for homeowners, often damaging roofs and windows and flooding entire homes, with an average cost of $23.3 billion per event, according to the NCEI.
- Flooding is the most common and underestimated threat (costing $4.5 billion per event), especially outside FEMA flood zones, causing damage through waterlogged walls, ruined foundations, and mold, according to the NCEI.
- Property insurance can help homeowners protect their homes in the event of multiple natural disasters, potentially offsetting the cost to rebuild.
Costliest Natural Disaster Events in the U.S. (2000–2024)
Hurricanes comprise eight of the top 10 costliest natural disaster events that occurred from 2000 to 2024 in the U.S. Unlike wildfires and winter storms, hurricanes are not necessarily isolated events. The aftermath of a hurricane’s winds, which can reach up to 157 miles per hour or more, according to the National Hurricane Center, combined with flooding that often leaves homes uninhabitable due to water damage, continues to significantly impact the lives of homeowners in affected areas well after the storm has passed.
1. Hurricane Katrina (2005)
With an estimated cost exceeding $161 billion in damages, Hurricane Katrina remains the costliest natural disaster for American homeowners, according to the George W. Bush Presidential Library. Katrina greatly affected cities in several states along the Gulf Coast, most notably New Orleans, which at one point was 80% underwater. In response to the devastating flooding and tens of thousands of homes swept away or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the federal government set aside $12.85 billion alone to repair New Orleans’ levees.
2. Hurricane Harvey (2017)
Hurricane Harvey caused an estimated $158.8 billion in damages, according to NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Second only to Hurricane Katrina in the cost of damage, Harvey hit the Texas coast along the Gulf of Mexico with a deluge of water and winds of up to 130 miles per hour, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management. More than 200,000 homes and businesses were damaged or completely destroyed.
3. Hurricane Ian (2022)
Damages resulting from Hurricane Ian totaled more than $112 billion, the majority of which—$109.5 billion—Florida sustained, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report. The costliest hurricane to hit the Sunshine State caused $1.1–$1.8 billion in losses to the state’s agricultural industry due to flooding from storm surges and high winds.
4. Hurricane Helene (2024)
Last year, Hurricane Helene hit Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and parts of Tennessee and Virginia hard with a deadly combination of precipitation and wind, causing flooding, landslides, and more than $78.7 billion in damage, according to the NOAA Office for Coastal Management. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper estimated $53 billion in damages to the Tar Heel State alone, according to NPR.
5. Hurricane Ida (2021)
States from Louisiana up the East Coast to Maine sustained an estimated $75 billion in property damage due to Hurricane Ida in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. After Ida made landfall on August 29, the Category 4 hurricane left a wake of flash flooding and wind damage along many of the Gulf Coast states.
6. Hurricane Sandy (2012)
Hurricane Sandy was a Category 3 hurricane that caused more than $65 billion in property damage in several states from the East Coast down to southeast Florida, according to FEMA. Survivors received more than $1.2 billion in housing assistance, while over $800 million was set aside to rebuild and restore vital infrastructures.
7. Hurricane Irma (2017)
Hurricane Irma caused approximately $50 billion in property damage in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and parts of South Carolina, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report. The Category 5 hurricane caused significant flooding in all four states, with rainfall totaling more than 21 inches in St. Lucie County, Florida. The storm also spawned 25 confirmed tornadoes, the majority (21) of which touched down in Florida and the other four in South Carolina. Homes that were not completely destroyed by hurricane winds or swept away by storm surges likely sustained water damage or damage as a result of a tornado.
8. Hurricane Ike (2008)
Housing damage resulting from Hurricane Ike cost an estimated $3.4 billion, according to FEMA. The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) was significantly affected by Ike, as the closure of nine hospitals within its destructive path resulted in losses exceeding $710 million due to damages and lost revenue. The Texas Forest Service declared an estimated $351 million in timber damage, but Hurricane Ike also caused $8 million of damage to the fishing and seafood industry alone.
9. California Camp Fire (2018)
The 2018 California Camp Fire that targeted Butte County razed 153,336 acres, destroying 18,804 structures and damaging 754 more, according to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CalFire). Estimates put the total cost of this wildfire in the neighborhood of $16.5 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
10. Texas Winter Storm (2021)
Insurance companies in Texas paid out approximately $10.3 billion in losses as a result of a freezing winter storm that lasted from February 11 to 19, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. An arctic blend of sleet, ice, and snow caused pipes to freeze, tree limbs to collapse under the excessive weight of the frozen precipitation, and power outages throughout the Lone Star State.
Most Expensive Types of Natural Disasters and How They Affect Homeowners
Each of the 50 states has been impacted by one or more $1 billion natural disasters since 1980, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). However, central, southern, and southeastern states experience the highest frequency of natural disasters. Below, explore the seven costliest types of natural disasters, beginning with the most expensive.
1. Hurricanes
Tropical storms that become full-fledged hurricanes cost an average of $23 billion per event, according to the NCEI. Strong winds knock out power and strip homes of their roofs and siding, while flooding typically results in long-term water damage that can consume and condemn an entire structure. Hurricanes often result in significant window replacement costs, but installing hurricane windows can help homeowners minimize repair costs.
2. Drought
A single drought event costs $11.5 billion on average, according to the NCEI. Homeowners can typically weather droughts by watering less or xeriscaping with native plants; however, droughts that cause the earth to shift can blindside homeowners with structural issues and burden them with unforeseen foundation repair costs.
3. Wildfires
A single wildfire costs an average of $6.4 billion per event, according to the NCEI. Most common in states west of the Great Plains and in the Southeast, wildfires cause damage through heat (primary), smoke (secondary), and the water or fire retardant used to contain the flames (third-party).
Figuring out how to repair damage after a house fire can feel overwhelming, but our guide walks you through the process so you can regain your home and peace of mind. Homeowners can harden their homes against wildfires by installing fire-hardening vents, gutter guards, and stainless steel mesh below their decks.
4. Flooding
Annual flooding costs in the U.S. total over $180 billion, according to the Joint Economic Committee. While the average large-scale flooding event costs $4.5 billion, a flood in the home can ruin foundations, waterlog walls, and breed mold, according to the NCEI. An inch of water in the home can cause up to $25,000 in water damage, but mold remediation costs for an entire house can total $30,000 or more on average.
5. Winter Storms
Winter storms cause an average of $4.2 billion per event, much of it due to water, as a solid and a liquid, according to the NCEI. Most common in the Northeastern states, winter storms can significantly damage shingles and gutters or blow them away completely. Additional damage includes chipped windows, cracked concrete, and flooded basements, along with mold and mildew that are more prone to growing in humid environments.
6. Freezes
Widespread freezes cause an average of $4.2 billion per event in damages, per the NCEI. It pays to prevent frozen or burst pipes, as the cost of plumbing repairs can reach up to $4,000. Similarly, determining how to prevent ice dams from forming before the winter season arrives can help you save $10,000 or more on water damage repair and restoration costs.
7. Severe Storms
On average, severe storms cause $2.5 billion in damage per event due to wind, hail, precipitation, and tornadoes, according to the NCEI. Window repair costs range from $100 to $600 for a single window, depending on the size, material, damage sustained, and accessibility. A particularly severe storm can also skyrocket the average cost of minor roof repairs ($1,147) to a full roof replacement ($9,000). The average insurance claim due to wind damage is $13,511.
How Can Homeowners Prepare Their Homes for Natural Disasters?
Effectively and efficiently sheltering your home from the next natural disaster requires researching the most common severe weather events in your surrounding area. While it’s vital “to understand the hazards and risks of buying a home in a region with frequent exposure to flooding, wildfires, hurricanes or other extreme weather,” says Lauren Holien, clinical professor and director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management degree programs at Idaho State University, comprehensive insurance coverage can help protect your home as you attempt to recover.
“I would emphasize that property insurance is a foundational pillar in both household financial protection and broader economic recovery,” says Yiling “Caroline” Deng, associate professor of insurance and risk management at the University of Central Arkansas. “Without insurance coverage, property owners are left solely responsible for repair or rebuild costs, which can be financially devastating.”
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Hurricanes
When it comes to severe storms, emergency alert notifications can help homeowners stay “apprised of developing weather systems and storms,” says Holien. “Make sure to always heed the advice of emergency officials to either shelter or evacuate, depending on the threat.”
“Having home plans is important as well—tornado warnings and hurricane warnings should prompt immediate procedures, whether evacuation or shelter-in-place,” says Rachel Dowty Beech, senior lecturer and coordinator at the University of New Haven.
Excessive precipitation can also wreak havoc on homes throughout the year, from freezing winter storms to spring floods. “Flood barriers such as sandbags can truly help during floods to keep water from getting to your home and are probably the lowest cost mitigation measure in terms of preventing the waters from getting in,” says Steve Lucas, professor at Indiana University. Installing a freeze-proof faucet in warmer weather safeguards your home’s plumbing against flooding due to frozen or burst pipes that can quickly lead to mold.
As rain turns to sleet, ice, and snow, homeowners can complete a winter cleaning checklist to ensure their home is ready for the cold weather ahead. Clearing out gutters can help prevent ice dams, while washing windows inside and out can help homeowners identify potential air leaks that can lower overall home energy efficiency. Snow removal kits also allow homeowners to ensure their vehicles are prepared for slippery roads and icy conditions.
Droughts and Wildfires
The harsh, hot conditions characteristic of a drought can make caring for your lawn challenging, as many states and counties focus on water conservation. However, a lack of water resources also increases the risk of wildfires. “Mitigation is the best strategy if you live in a hazard-prone area,” says Holien. “An example of a mitigation investment is creating defensive space with smart landscaping to ensure no combustibles are close to structures in wildfire-prone areas.”
For homeowners rebuilding after a wildfire, “building a house of non-combustible materials (concrete, brick, breeze blocks) can reduce the risk of loss,” says Vanessa Dodge, lecturer at Sonoma State University. While homes made from these materials have a potentially higher chance of surviving a fire, “burning embers and smoke can damage roofs and discolor siding and home and other outdoor exteriors and landscaping,” says Holien.
Recovering from a natural disaster is a complex and multi-faceted struggle that many homeowners throughout the nation face. However, “there’s a tension between building back quickly and building back stronger, safer, and better,” says Karl Kim, professor and executive director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Homeowners can increase their chances of weathering a natural disaster with fewer losses by educating themselves on the proper precautions necessary for the most common severe weather events in their region.
Expert Insights
What long-term weather patterns should homeowners consider when buying a home, particularly regarding flood zones, wildfire risks, or hurricane paths?
What are the biggest challenges in rebuilding homes after a natural disaster?
What costs do homeowners face after a natural disaster?
“Structural repairs constitute the most immediate and substantial expense. This includes the restoration or rebuilding of damaged roofs, walls, foundations, plumbing, electrical systems, and HVAC units.”
