The 15 Costliest US Hurricanes of the 21st Century

A ranking of the most destructive storms that have hit the United States since 2000.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, with a massive hurricane system dominating the horizon and dwarfing any physical structures or objects in the foreground, conveying a sense of the overwhelming, sublime power of nature.As the frequency and intensity of hurricanes increase, the staggering financial and human toll of these extreme weather events underscores the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness.Port Arthur Today

A new report has compiled a list of the 15 most expensive hurricanes that have struck the United States since the start of the 21st century. The data shows that the frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events have increased dramatically in recent decades, causing billions in damages and disrupting communities across the country.

Why it matters

As climate change continues to drive more severe and unpredictable weather patterns, understanding the financial and human toll of these hurricanes is crucial for policymakers, disaster relief organizations, and citizens to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of future storms.

The details

The report analyzed factors such as total damage costs, number of fatalities, and disruption to critical infrastructure to determine the 15 costliest hurricanes since 2000. Topping the list are storms like Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and Hurricane Maria in 2017, which each caused over $90 billion in damages. The data highlights how these extreme weather events have become more frequent, with 7 of the 15 costliest hurricanes occurring in just the last 6 years.

  • The report was published on April 17, 2026.
  • The data covers hurricanes that have struck the United States since the year 2000.

The players

Hurricane Andrew

A powerful Category 5 hurricane that devastated South Florida in 1992, causing over $26 billion in damages and 65 fatalities.

Hurricane Katrina

One of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes on record, which struck the Gulf Coast in 2005 and caused over $125 billion in damages and more than 1,800 fatalities.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

As climate change continues to drive more extreme weather, the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the United States underscores the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and effective mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable communities.