The resulting flooding displaced over 30,000 people and damaged or destroyed over 200,000 homes and businesses. More than 30 inches of rainfall fell on 6.9 million people (and some areas experienced over 50 inches) based on 7-day rainfall totals. A large region of extreme rainfall produced historic flooding across Houston and surrounding areas. Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas. High winds and some flooding occurred in Ala., Fla., Ga., Ind., Ky., Miss., Ohio and Tenn. coasts, wind damage, and the failure of parts of the levee system in New Orleans. coastlines, resulting in severe storm surge damage (maximum surge probably exceeded 30 feet) along the La.-Miss.-Ala. Hurricane Katrina initially hit as a Category 1 near Miami, Fla., then as a stronger Category 3 along the eastern La.-western Miss. Learn more about the links between climate change and:

That’s why many cities, state, and businesses are taking steps to prepare for more extreme weather. For example, sea level rise increases the impacts of coastal storms and warming can place more stress on water supplies during droughts. These estimates do not account for losses to natural capital, health care related costs, or values associated with loss of life.Ĭlimate change is expected to worsen the frequency, intensity, and impacts of some types of extreme weather events. NOAA calculates total, direct costs – both insured and uninsured – including physical damage to residential, commercial, and government buildings, material assets within buildings, public infrastructure, vehicles and boats, offshore energy platforms, and agricultural assets, as well as business interruption losses and disaster restoration and wildfire suppression costs. The Top 10 costliest events are listed at the bottom of this page, along with a description of major U.S. Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center. Click on any circle to learn about one of the billion-dollar weather events, or any state to learn about billion-dollar droughts, between January 2000 and January 2022.

Extreme weather calculator