randy andy // Shutterstock
1 / 51#51. Nevada
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $2.8 billion
- Cost per resident: $871.24
- Most damaging disaster type: Wildfires ($1.2 billion)
States with the costliest weather events
Extreme and violent weather events leave much to be reconciled in their wake, and perhaps the most dire practical circumstance is property damage. Over the last decade, more than $1 trillion in property damage has occurred in the U.S. due to unforeseen weather events, which not only makes recovery challenging but, in the longer term, siphons already limited resources in many regions of the country, including clean water, building materials, and temporary housing.
People worldwide watched as Hurricane Irene tore the Atlantic seaboard in 2011, devastating Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. Superstorm Sandy hammered the Atlantic Coast—and New Jersey, in particular—a year later. Residents of Puerto Rico are still struggling to rebuild after 2017's Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island before Hurricane Michael rammed into Florida in 2018. Other expensive and terrifying disasters, such as the 2010 flooding that affected every city and town in Rhode Island, escaped widespread national attention yet caused numerous injuries and wrenching losses.
Violent weather events rarely occur on their own. The remains of hurricanes and tropical storms travel, wreaking havoc even as they weaken. Cold air meets warm air, creating thunderstorms that spawn tornadoes and hail. Wildfires gather strength in windy, hot, and dry conditions. Hail storms build when updrafts in thunderstorms push raindrops into colder parts of the atmosphere, where they freeze into hard balls of ice. Tornadoes and hailstorms are capable of causing extraordinary damage, particularly when they strike highly populated areas.
Over the last decade, at least four states faced over $100 billion in damage-related costs from weather-related events and natural disasters. The worst hit in the last 10 years? Louisiana, with $555 billion overall, followed by Puerto Rico, with $240.8 billion.
Stacker ranked each state (and Puerto Rico) by the average cost of property damages due to weather-related disasters on its citizens between 1980 and 2023, using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Billion-Dollar Disasters database. Data only includes storms and disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damages in the state and is adjusted for inflation. (Washington D.C., having not experienced any disasters that cost at least $1 billion, is excluded from this list.) Data is current as of June 8, 2023. States are ranked by per-resident costs on average per year based on 2022 American Community Survey estimates. An estimated 80% of damage costs due to extreme weather come from billion-dollar disasters.
Read on to see where your state lands.
You may also like: The coldest counties in the 10 warmest states
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
2 / 51#50. Utah
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $3.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $1,016
- Most damaging disaster type: Floodings ($1.5 billion)
Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock
3 / 51#49. Washington
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $8.3 billion
- Cost per resident: $1,065
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($3.9 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
4 / 51#48. Michigan
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $12 billion
- Cost per resident: $1,200
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($5.1 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
5 / 51#47. Arizona
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $9.7 billion
- Cost per resident: $1,319
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($5.2 billion)
You may also like: 2023's top cities that are safest from natural disasters
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
6 / 51#46. Massachusetts
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $10.2 billion
- Cost per resident: $1,463
- Most damaging disaster type: Winter storms ($5 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
7 / 51#45. New Hampshire
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $2.2 billion
- Cost per resident: $1,555
- Most damaging disaster type: Winter storms ($1.6 billion)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
8 / 51#44. Maine
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $2.3 billion
- Cost per resident: $1,662
- Most damaging disaster type: Winter storms ($1.6 billion)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
9 / 51#43. Pennsylvania
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $26.8 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,066
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($11.3 billion)
Canva
10 / 51#42. Ohio
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $29 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,467
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($16.3 billion)
You may also like: States with the most severe summer weather
George Wirt // Shutterstock
11 / 51#41. Rhode Island
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $2.7 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,508
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($1.3 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
12 / 51#40. Maryland
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $15.6 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,536
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($6.2 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
13 / 51#39. Virginia
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $23.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,690
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($10.3 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
14 / 51#38. Connecticut
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $10.1 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,788
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($5.7 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
15 / 51#37. Oregon
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $12 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,838
- Most damaging disaster type: Wildfires ($5.7 billion)
You may also like: How climate change drives hotter, more frequent heat waves
Real Window Creative // Shutterstock
16 / 51#36. Delaware
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $2.9 billion
- Cost per resident: $2,895
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($991 million)
Canva
17 / 51#35. Alaska
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $2.2 billion
- Cost per resident: $3,062
- Most damaging disaster type: Wildfires ($2.2 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
18 / 51#34. New Mexico
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $7 billion
- Cost per resident: $3,299
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($3 billion)
Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock
19 / 51#33. Wisconsin
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $19.7 billion
- Cost per resident: $3,339
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($7.9 billion)
Albert Pego // Shutterstock
20 / 51#32. Vermont
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $2.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $3,724
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($1.1 billion)
You may also like: 50 coldest cities in America on Christmas
Marek Masik // Shutterstock
21 / 51#31. California
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $147.2 billion
- Cost per resident: $3,772
- Most damaging disaster type: Wildfires ($95.8 billion)
Charles Knowles // Shutterstock
22 / 51#30. Idaho
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $7.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $3,793
- Most damaging disaster type: Wildfires ($3.4 billion)
Canva
23 / 51#29. Georgia
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $41.8 billion
- Cost per resident: $3,834
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($18 billion)
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
24 / 51#28. New York
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $79.3 billion
- Cost per resident: $4,028
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($65.5 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
25 / 51#27. Illinois
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $51.3 billion
- Cost per resident: $4,079
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($21.6 billion)
You may also like: Most extreme temperatures in the history of every state
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
26 / 51#26. Indiana
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $28.3 billion
- Cost per resident: $4,146
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($12.6 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
27 / 51#25. West Virginia
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $7.7 billion
- Cost per resident: $4,328
- Most damaging disaster type: Floodings ($2.7 billion)
Canva
28 / 51#24. Hawaii
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $6.6 billion
- Cost per resident: $4,606
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($6.6 billion)
Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock
29 / 51#23. Tennessee
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $37.5 billion
- Cost per resident: $5,324
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($21.1 billion)
Rotorhead 30A Productions // Shutterstock
30 / 51#22. Kentucky
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $26.5 billion
- Cost per resident: $5,878
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($15 billion)
You may also like: These US counties are most vulnerable to tornado damage
Canva
31 / 51#21. Minnesota
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $35.8 billion
- Cost per resident: $6,268
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($20.9 billion)
Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock
32 / 51#20. New Jersey
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $61.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $6,631
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($50.9 billion)
f11photo // Shutterstock
33 / 51#19. South Carolina
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $36.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $6,889
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($23.4 billion)
Canva
34 / 51#18. Arkansas
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $21.1 billion
- Cost per resident: $6,923
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($8 billion)
Canva
35 / 51#17. Colorado
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $40.6 billion
- Cost per resident: $6,959
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($24.5 billion)
You may also like: California, Texas lead the nation for most disaster-prone states. Here's how the top 10 states compare.
Sharkshock // Shutterstock
36 / 51#16. North Carolina
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $85.6 billion
- Cost per resident: $8,001
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($65.7 billion)
TommyBrison // Shutterstock
37 / 51#15. Missouri
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $52.6 billion
- Cost per resident: $8,520
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($23.8 billion)
LBill45 // Shutterstock
38 / 51#14. Wyoming
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $5.1 billion
- Cost per resident: $8,705
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($2.7 billion)
Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock
39 / 51#13. Alabama
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $48.9 billion
- Cost per resident: $9,640
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($25.9 billion)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
40 / 51#12. Oklahoma
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $39 billion
- Cost per resident: $9,690
- Most damaging disaster type: Severe storms ($22.9 billion)
You may also like: Despite hurricane risks, U.S. Gulf Coast remains major draw for renters
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
41 / 51#11. Texas
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $384.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $12,800
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($230.3 billion)
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
42 / 51#10. Kansas
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $37.6 billion
- Cost per resident: $12,805
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($22.2 billion)
Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock
43 / 51#9. Montana
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $17.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $15,517
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($12.6 billion)
Mia2you // Shutterstock
44 / 51#8. Florida
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $378 billion
- Cost per resident: $16,993
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($353.2 billion)
Katherine Welles // Shutterstock
45 / 51#7. Nebraska
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $33.8 billion
- Cost per resident: $17,155
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($15.5 billion)
You may also like: Record rainfall in every state
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
46 / 51#6. Iowa
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $58.6 billion
- Cost per resident: $18,321
- Most damaging disaster type: Floodings ($23.4 billion)
JohnDSmith // Shutterstock
47 / 51#5. South Dakota
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $20.9 billion
- Cost per resident: $22,978
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($13.4 billion)
Canva
48 / 51#4. Mississippi
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $81.7 billion
- Cost per resident: $27,776
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($59.3 billion)
Canva
49 / 51#3. Puerto Rico
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $120.4 billion
- Cost per resident: $37,375
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($120.4 billion)
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
50 / 51#2. North Dakota
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $32.2 billion
- Cost per resident: $41,351
- Most damaging disaster type: Droughts ($22.5 billion)
You may also like: Warmest states in America
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
51 / 51#1. Louisiana
- Total costs, 1980-June 2023: $297 billion
- Cost per resident: $64,706
- Most damaging disaster type: Tropical cyclones ($258 billion)
Data reporting by Emma Rubin. Story editing by Brian Budzynski.
