There were 27 recorded weather and climate disasters in 2024 that caused at least $1 billion in damage each, the NOAA reports — making it the second-highest year for billion-dollar events on record.
Over the course of 2024, these disasters caused $182.7 billion in total damages across the U.S. The billion-dollar events included two winter storms/cold waves, a wildfire, a drought and heatwave, a flooding event, six tornado outbreaks, five tropical cyclones and 11 severe weather or hail events.
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida in late September 2024, was the most disastrous U.S. incident in 2024. The category 4 hurricane caused $79.6 billion in damage and killed 219 people. Storm surge played a large part in the hefty hurricane bill, with surge as high as 15 feet recorded in some areas of Florida. Helene also caused billions of dollars in damage to the agriculture sector in Georgia and caused historic rainfall and flooding in North Carolina.
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Brittney Meredith-Miller
Brittney Meredith-Miller is assistant editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. She can be reached at [email protected].
