Hurricane Sandy has displaced Hurricane Irene as the costliest hurricane to affect the northeastern United States since the last time Digital Insurance checked in with the Insurance Information Institute on the costliest hurricane claims events in U.S. history. Insurers' response to catastrophe events is getting more sophisticated all the time, with drones saving adjusters time and protecting their safety, and analytics and mobile communications combining to alert policyholders of incoming dangers. For the purpose of these rankings, insured damages do not include those covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, and are not adjusted for inflation.
10. Hurricane Hugo
Date: Sept. 17 to 22, 1989 Insured damages: $4.195 billion Affected states: Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia and U.S. Virgin Islands.
9. Hurricane Frances
Date: Sept. 3 to 9, 2004 Insured damages: $4.595 billion Affected states: Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina
8. Hurricane Rita
Date: Sept. 20 to 26, 2005 Insured damages: $5.627 billion States affected: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas
7. Hurricane Ivan
Date: Sept. 15 to 21, 2004 Insured damages: $7.11 billion in damages Affected states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia
6. Hurricane Charley
Date: Aug. 13 to 14, 2004 Insured damages: $7.475 billion in insured damages States affected: Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina
Date: Sept. 12 to 14, 2008 Insured damages: $12.5 billion States affected: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas
3. Hurricane Andrew
Date: Aug. 24 to 26, 1992 Insured damages: $15.5 billion in insured damages States affected: Florida and Louisiana
2. Hurricane Sandy
Date: Oct. 28 to 31, 2012 Insured damages: $18.7 billion States affected: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, D.C.
1. Hurricane Katrina
Date: Aug. 25 to 30, 2005 Insured damages: $41.1 billion States affected: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee