The costliest U.S. hurricanes since 1980

Now of course the most effective way is to actually raise your home above ground, but that could cost thousands to even hundreds of thousands of dollars if not more to do. So instead, I'm going to show you some basic and cost effective ways to protect your home from flooding before *** storm hits, starting with the all too familiar rain gutters. Many homes in. New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana have these. It's important to routinely clean and maintain them so that rainwater from your roof flows easily away from your home. Also check to make sure that any nearby drainage ditches are clear of debris and are functioning properly. Next, look for any open cracks or openings where water could get in. You can use *** cocking tool to help seal off any areas that could allow water to enter your home, and of course the sandbags. An old flood defense mechanism that's been around for centuries, but it can't have its limitations. It's more about trying to protect when water gets close to your door. It can be *** stopgap there and try to hold some of that water back again if water gets too high in the event of *** hurricane or severe flooding, it's not going to stop completely water from going in your home, but it can be something to mitigate it. So how are sandbags most effective at protecting your home from flooding? Imagine this. Water's close to your door and *** car drives down the street. It's creating those waves. Those waves are where the water was not going to go in your home. Now it may. Well, if there's *** sandbag there, it might stop the water from going in the home. And once your sandbags are set up, move all your personal valuables and belongings upstairs or to the highest point inside your home to protect them from flooding and water damage. Our meteorologist Eric Sibley, WDSU News.

Updated: 9:01 AM CDT Aug 24, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The costliest U.S. hurricanes since 1980

Updated: 9:01 AM CDT Aug 24, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Hurricanes leave a path of devastation when they hit, and some of the storms can cost astronomical sums of money.There have been 67 U.S. hurricanes since 1980 that have cost more than a billion dollars when adjusted for inflation, with just under a third occurring in the 2020s alone. It adds up. Those 67 storms cost the U.S. over $1.5 trillion dollars, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. When adjusted for inflation, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the most expensive. Damage was estimated around $200 billion — more than all five of 2024’s costliest hurricanes (Beryl, Debby, Francine, Helene and Milton) combined.The chart below shows the costliest hurricanes that have hit the U.S. since 1980 and their category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

NEW YORK —

Hurricanes leave a path of devastation when they hit, and some of the storms can cost astronomical sums of money.

There have been 67 U.S. hurricanes since 1980 that have cost more than a billion dollars when adjusted for inflation, with just under a third occurring in the 2020s alone.

It adds up. Those 67 storms cost the U.S. over $1.5 trillion dollars, to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

When adjusted for inflation, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the most expensive. Damage was estimated around $200 billion — more than all five of 2024’s costliest hurricanes (Beryl, Debby, Francine, Helene and Milton) combined.

The chart below shows the costliest hurricanes that have hit the U.S. since 1980 and their category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

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