Hurricanes

Hurricanes 1900 - 1999

Sources

In most states, hurricanes occur infrequently. Yet, when a hurricane hits, the losses can be catastrophic. Average annual losses are not a meaningful measure of damage from rare but potentially catastrophic events. The frequency of occurrence and the total damage potential are of greater concern and therefore are emphasized in our presentation of hurricane damage. Throughout the large hurricane-prone region near the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, future hurricanes are likely to strike in places that have had the good fortune to be missed in the past. Damage potential increases as economic development increases. Thus, historical maximum damage is likely to be exceeded in the future. Click here for state rankings by single year largest normalized damage and number of years with hurricane damage. Click here for a list of the "Top 30 Damaging Hurricanes in the Continental U.S."

**By Rank**
(click on state for more information)
State	Rank	Total Normalized Damage (millions 1999 US$)
U.S. Hurricane Damage excluding Hawaii and Puerto Rico		$510,600
Florida	1	$238,900
Texas	2	$100,500
North Carolina	3	$34,200
Louisiana	4	$33,850
New York	5	$18,460
South Carolina	6	$17,400
Mississippi	8	$16,500
Connecticut	7	$16,430
Alabama	9	$12,400
Rhode Island	10	$10,330
Massachusetts	11	$7,082
Virginia	12	$2,995
Georgia	13	$1,238
Maryland	14	$112.2
Pennsylvania	15	$89.76
Ohio	16 (tie)	$44.88
West Virginia	16 (tie)	$44.88
Maine	17	$10.43
Hawaii	n/a	$3,917
Puerto Rico/USVI	n/a	$8,810

**Alphabetical**
(click on state for more information)
State	Rank	Total Normalized Damage (millions 1999 US$)
U.S. Hurricane Damage excluding Hawaii and Puerto Rico		$510,600
Alabama	9	$12,400
Connecticut	7	$16,430
Florida	1	$238,900
Georgia	13	$1,238
Louisiana	4	$33,850
Maine	17	$10.43
Maryland	14	$112.2
Massachusetts	11	$7,082
Mississippi	8	$16,500
New York	5	$18,460
North Carolina	3	$34,200
Ohio	16 (tie)	$44.88
Pennsylvania	15	$89.76
Rhode Island	10	$10,330
South Carolina	6	$17,400
Texas	2	$100,500
Virginia	12	$2,995
West Virginia	16 (tie)	$44.88
Hawaii	n/a	$3,917
Puerto Rico/USVI	n/a	$8,810