Will this be more expensive than Andrew..?

[djtil]

not to sound cruel...but will those extremely poors people "assets" really add up.

[x-y-no]

Without question, this will be the most expensive natural disaster to date.

[gtalum]

not to sound cruel...but will those extremely poors people "assets" really add up.

The whole 9th Ward is allegedly under water. That's a lot of poor people, and I'm willing to bet it adds up pretty high.

We're all just going to have to sit back and wait for the numbers I guess.

[FlSteel]

Considering the possible damage to oil rigs and all the infastructure, as well as NOLA getting pounded, the gulf coast from florida through southeast LA and the damage that will occur north of it. I would be surprised if the damage is less than about 45 billion or so. Just an uneducated guess. ( question I have is will the sudden jump to $70 a barrel for oil factor into it?)

[gtalum]

I doubt the oil price increase will factor in. It's too complicated to separate out other factors, and th eprice is all based on speculators anyway.

[jujubean]

we also have to keep in mind that katrina is not finished yet ....their expecting 15 inches of rain in places like ohio and tennessee....there will be more damage totals to tally in these areas due to floods and tornadoes.

[aumoore]

Don't forget this Cane will cause disruption in the Gasonine supply and may make Gas prices spike to over $4.00 per gallon. This will cause everything you buy from the fuel for your daily commute to your Ice Cream cost more.


Then there is the cost in human suffering and whole communities thrown into a state of depression. It has not been quite a year yet and I can tell you that the Greater Pensacola area is still in a funk over Ivan. Dennis caused widespread panic and now Katrina caused people to leave Pensacola even with it hitting over 200 miles to the west.

My power was out for over 8 hours today and there are reports of Highway 90 over the Escambia bay flooded.

If you add up all the damage $40billion may not be enough. The Beau Rivage in Biloxi cost over $800million to build in the late 1990's and it may cost almost that much to rebuild just that Casino alone. I would guess the Superdome will cost over $25 million to repair it it did not recieve major structural damage. Untill the engineers get thru inspection the major structures we cannot begin to imagine the true cost of this storm.

click this link
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/app ... 80326/1006

it lists Andrew at $21.1 billion and Ivan as #3 in total cost at $8.49 billion. Ivan only hit the US one time and the Pensacola/Gulf Shores, AL area is around 450,000 total people. New Orleans alone is over 1.3 million people and the Mississippi gulf coast is home to almost 1/3 of Mississippi's population.

My guess is this will easlily top Andrew in dollars and I pray the human toll will be minimual.

[EDR1222]

You would have to think it would be. Andrew was more intense at landfall, but the size of Katrina was incredible. Significant damage is likely over a much larger area and it is still going to dump alot of rain as it moves toward the Ohio valley which is sure to cause some problems as well.

[Brent]

Yes...

and BTW: Katrina was stronger at it's 1st landfall... 918 mb.

It was also MUCH MUCH larger. Had Andrew being of Katrina's size, it would have destroyed Miami.

[mascpa]

I would be very surprised if the amount of damages isn't significantly higher than Andrew.

[djtil]

and BTW: Katrina was stronger at it's 1st landfall... 918 mb

i shouldve prefaced....i rate hurricanes based on wind speeds.

[ncbird]

I think it will. The huge area this storm did damage to and more still to come is really gonna start adding up.

[cjrciadt]

Four of the top 5 storms in damage totals in the past 2 years. Katrina will get the one spot.

[WeatherEmperor]

Its gonna be very close. According to the "official" and I stress that word official damages estimates per the National Hurricane Center, it puts Andrew at $43.6 billion after being adjusted for inflation to the year 2004. I think Katrina has a big chance at topping Andrew. My personal opinion: Move over Andrew. Make a place for Katrina.

<RICKY>

Here is a quick link to the official damages estimates:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastcost2.shtml?

[f5]

Andrew's price tag looks like a Wal Mart discount

[fasterdisaster]

Andrew's price tag looks like a Wal Mart discount

Yes Katrina has already been confirmed to have done 70 billion and likely caused at least 120 billion.

[Derek Ortt]

even Wilma is going to be very close to Andrew's 26 billion dollar total. Andrew may be displaced to #3 after this season

[f5]

even Wilma is going to be very close to Andrew's 26 billion dollar total. Andrew may be displaced to #3 after this season

thats just the insured cost the full cost to rebuild everything back to pre-Katrina levels.its estimated by the red cross she destroyed 275,000 homes .compared that with Andrew he destroyed 28,000 homes.Thats alot of people that lost their homes

[hookemfins]

Yes Katrina will top Andrew. The flooding in NO will put it way over the top. Take away the flooding and Andrew would still lead.

[superfly]

Yes Katrina will top Andrew. The flooding in NO will put it way over the top. Take away the flooding and Andrew would still lead.

I'd have to disagree. Andrew might have destroyed Homestead but Katrina destroyed the entire LA/MS/AL coast.