AccuWeather Puts Total Damage and Economic Loss From Helene at $145B to $160B

AccuWeather increased its estimate of the total damage and economic loss from Hurricane Helene to between $145 billion and $160 billion.

This update is an increase from AccuWeather’s preliminary estimate late last week of total damage and economic loss of $95 billion to $110 billion issued while the storm’s most significant impacts were still occurring. The increase makes Hurricane Helene one of the costliest storms in U.S. history.

The losses come from devastating storm surge, damaging winds and historic flooding. In particular, a catastrophic flooding disaster unfolded in the southern Appalachians including Asheville, North Carolina, and surrounding areas, as well as widespread storm surge impacts along the populated west coast of Florida.

The majority of homes and businesses in some communities were destroyed, bridges, roadways and critical infrastructure were heavily damaged or destroyed.

Helene impact the Big Bend of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. It made its way northward and brought hurricane conditions into Georgia and catastrophic flooding to the southern Appalachians, while bringing damaging winds and flooding rain into the Atlanta metro area. Helene also left more than 4.5 million customers without power, according to AccuWeather.

Helene goes down as one of the most damaging storms in U.S. history, along with Hurricane Ian from 2022, which brought $180 to $210 billion in total damage and economic loss. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 caused $190 billion in total damage and economic loss, and Hurricane Irma that year caused $80 billion in total damage and economic loss.

The AccuWeather estimate largely accounts for damage to homes, businesses, medical facilities, roadways and vehicles, as well as power outages, which results in food spoilage and interruption to medical care.

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