A giant winter storm that's brought ice and plummeting temperatures to a large swath of the country has left more than 5 million people without power, creating another possibly dangerous situation for millions of Americans who don't typically see freezing temperatures.
As people try to keep warm without power, they run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning when using unconventional heat sources such as stoves, grills or generators.
Carbon monoxide poisoning appears to have killed a woman and a girl during this week's freezing weather in Houston, police said Tuesday, with investigators believing a car was running in a garage to create heat in the attached home after power went out. Authorities in Oregon said four people had died from carbon monoxide poisoning there.
Here's what you need to know and do in order to stay safe and warm during the cold snap.
As people try to keep warm without power, they run the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning when using unconventional heat sources such as stoves, grills or generators.
It has no taste or smell
Carbon monoxide is a gas that has no odor, color or taste.
Although you can't see or smell it, it can be extremely dangerous to your health and possibly even fatal.
You could feel like you have the flu
While it's tempting to turn on a gas stove or oven, or perhaps climb into a car to warm up, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say those options can be deadly, with more than 400 Americans dying each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, many because they've tried do-it-yourself fixes during power outages.
"Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized," the CDC said.
If you're suffering from CO poisoning you could experience flu-like symptoms such as headache, dizziness or weakness.
Breathing in a lot of CO can cause you to lose consciousness and people who are sleeping or drunk can die before they even suffer any other symptoms, according to the CDC.
CO poisoning can come from a lot of sources
The CDC warns that carbon monoxide poisoning can come from a variety of different sources.
"Carbon monoxide (CO) is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. CO can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it," the agency website says.
Americans are advised not to run cars or trucks inside attached garages, even if the door is left open. People also should not heat their homes with gas ovens or burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn't vented, the CDC advises.
Even using devices outside of the home comes with a caution that you stay more than 20 feet from a window, door, or vent, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning when using a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove.
Louisiana officials issue warning
The Louisiana Department of Health issued updated warnings Monday amid outages in the state.
People die each year, especially after hurricanes hit the area, due to carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.
Several hurricane deaths from CO poisoning
At least nine deaths that were associated with Hurricane Laura were caused by the improper use of portable devices such as generators.
Although they are dealing with a different type of severe weather, the risk for poisoning still remains.
Ventilation is needed when using devices
"Portable generators should never be used indoors. This includes use inside a garage, carport, basement, crawl space, or other enclosed or partially enclosed area, even those with ventilation," a warning from the state health department said. "Gas-powered generators produce an exhaust of carbon monoxide (CO), which is odorless and colorless."
"CO inhalation can rapidly lead to full incapacitation or death," it added.
It also said that CO can build up if even windows and doors are open.
Get fresh air
The department advises anyone who is running a different heat or power source and is feeling unwell to get to fresh air immediately.
Scenes from the winter storm
A man peers out from under a blanket while trying to stay warm in below freezing temperatures Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Houston. A winter storm dropping snow and ice sent temperatures plunging across the southern Plains, prompting a power emergency in Texas a day after conditions canceled flights and impacted traffic across large swaths of the U.S. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Ice hangs from a buildings fire escape in Downtown Cincinnati on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning starting Monday and going through Tuesday with heavy snow expected. (Albert Cesare /The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)
A sudden heavy bout of snow and frozen rain makes visibility low on MS Hwy. 463 in Madison, Miss., early Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2021. According to the National Weather Service in Jackson, Miss., a winter storm warning continues for all counties. (Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)
Same Reals, left, and Tyler Panko run shirtless through Wichita, Kan., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Reals said he tries to run a 5k on the coldest day of the year. The temperature during their run was -3, with a wind chill of -11. Frigid temperatures continue to grip with the middle of the continent. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP)
Horses wait for the ice to be broken in their water trough in Bastop County, Texas, as the sun rises Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The area saw 4-6 inches of snow and below freezing temperatures. (Nell Carroll/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
A sign is covered in ice and snow Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Houston. A winter storm dropping snow and ice sent temperatures plunging across the southern Plains, prompting a power emergency in Texas a day after conditions canceled flights and impacted traffic across large swaths of the U.S. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
People push a car free after spinning out in the snow Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Waco, Texas. A winter storm that brought snow, ice and plunging temperatures across the southern Plains and caused a power emergency in Texas stretched its frigid fingers down to the Gulf Coast. (Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP)
Snow and ice coat tree branches Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, at Tiscornia Park in St.Joseph, Mich.(Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)
Icicles hang from Jeffery Hemmer's beard as he walks the 26th mile of his 40 mile rucking journey near his home in Fairview, Il. on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Today is Hemmer's 40th birthday and he chose to celebrate it by going out into the snow at 4 a.m. carrying 40lbs of weight to complete a 40 mile rucking journey in a winter storm warning. (Cheyenne Boone/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
Waverly McKenna, 6 (bottom) gets a push form her father Mike McKenna sledding during heavy snow storm in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian via AP)
A bird perches on a frozen limb in Memphis, Tenn. as below freezing temperatures grip the Mid-South on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal via AP)
Mason Adolf, 13, plays hockey in his driveway as his dog, Whiskey, watches Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Nolensville, Tenn. Much of Tennessee was hit with a winter storm that brought freezing rain, snow, sleet and freezing temperatures. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Lia Ubidia, right, and her son, Andrew Velarde, carry groceries as they walk home through the snow Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Houston. A frigid blast of winter weather across the U.S. plunged Texas into an unusually icy emergency Monday that knocked out power to more than 2 million people and shut down grocery stores and dangerously snowy roads. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Freya carries a stick back to her owner, Ally Graziani of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while playing fetch at Ritter Park after a winter storm on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Huntington, W.Va. (Ryan Fischer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP)
Traffic is sparse on the snow-covered I-45 near The Woodlands Parkway following an overnight snowfall Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in The Woodlands, Texas. Temperatures plunged into the teens Monday with light snow and freezing rain. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Icicles hang on a watch for ice on bridge road sign Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Houston. A winter storm making its way from the southern Plains to the Northeast is affecting air travel. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP)
A Home Depot parking lot is covered in snow in the Westbury neighborhood, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Houston. A winter storm making its way from the southern Plains to the Northeast is affecting air travel. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Rain begins to fall as the snow melts on boats at the Port of Everett Marina on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Andy Bronson/The Herald via AP)
Matt Kolinek and Arturo Paz, 19, remove snow from their walkway in the BlackHawk neighborhood in Pflugerville, Texas on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Most homes in the area were without power for nearly 8 hours. Atmos Energy and other power companies were performing rotating outages to protect the electric grid. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Sanders Archibad,6, helps his brother Avett, 8, remove snow from their front door. Snow covers the BlackHawk neighborhood in Pflugerville, Texas on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Most homes in the area were without power for nearly 8 hours. Atmos Energy and other power companies were performing rotating outages to protect the electric grid. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Bryce (who wants just to be identified by his first name) walks to his friend's home as snow covers the BlackHawk neighborhood in Pflugerville, Texas on Monday morning Feb. 15, 2021. Most homes in the area were without power for nearly 8 hours. Atmos Energy and other power companies were performing rotating outages to protect the electric grid. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Annie Boon, 5, creates a snow angel while sledding with her family in Austin on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Snow blankets a neighborhood in Austin on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. After a heavy night of snow, the National Weather Service has received reports from around Central Texas of snowfall totals as high as half a foot. (Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
A line of vehicles travel south on Interstate 55 in north Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, as light snow mixed with sleet, and rain continue to cover much of the state. While the highway has several lanes, some drivers preferred to follow an established trail. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures barely hovering at 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and likely slipping into the single digits by Tuesday morning. A winter storm warning continues throughout the state. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mackenzie Ribble, Nikki Ribble, and Makayla Ribble, cross Market Street during a snow storm in downtown St. Louis on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The brutally cold weather is expected to continue through Saturday with more snow in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. Nikki Ribble brought her daughters to St. Louis for a volleyball tournament being held at America's Center. The family is from Iowa. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
A pedestrian crosses Market Street during a snow storm in downtown St. Louis on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The brutally cold weather is expected to continue through Saturday with more snow in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
Icicles form on a citrus tree from a sprinkler system used to protect the trees from the freezing temperatures on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Edinburg, Texas. A sprawling blast of winter weather across the U.S. plunged Texas into an unusually snowy emergency Monday that knocked out power for more than 2 million people, shut down grocery stores and air travel and closed schools ahead of frigid days still to come.(Delcia Lopez/The Monitor via AP)
Baylor University students enjoy their snow day without classes while posing near a fountain on campus Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Waco, Texas. Arctic temperatures caused a massive power outage and brought traffic to a crawl. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune Herald via AP)
A camera flash illuminates snow near icicles Monday, Feb. 15 at the Rum Village Nature Center in South Bend, Ind.. (Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP)
Snow falls near the Courthouse Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 at the Rum Village Nature Center in South Bend, Ind.. (Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP)
A man crosses a street as temperatures drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Temperatures were expected to drop to -9 degrees overnight as a winter storm passes through the region. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Shrubbery around the city is covered in ice as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Dallas.(Lola Gomez/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
Wesley Brown has a little fun with his four wheeler on the icy streets Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Tupelo, Miss. as much of North Mississippi was hit by a winter storm that brought sleet and freezing rain across the area. (Thomas Wells/Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)
These Jackson, Miss., siblings turn a cardboard box into a sled as they take turns sliding down a steep driveway leading onto an inclined street in northeast Jackson, Miss., Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, as light snow mixed with sleet, and rain continue to cover much of the state. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures barely hovering at 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and likely slipping into the single digits by Tuesday morning. A winter storm warning continues throughout the state. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Dan Bryant and his wife Anna huddle by the fire with sons Benny, 3, and Sam, 12 weeks, along with their dog Joey, also wearing two doggie sweaters, with power out and temperatures dropping inside their home after a winter storm brought snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Garland, Texas. The Bryant's, who lost power Monday morning, were wearing outdoor winter clothes, down to snow boots, hat, and ski pants, and even their dog Joey had two doggie sweaters. More than 2 million Texans were without power after the winter storm prompted outages. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
Most expensive climate disasters
Most expensive climate disasters in recent decades
In 2020, the U.S. had a record-setting 22 climate and weather disasters totaling $1 billion in damages each. Of those, 13 were severe storms, seven were related to tropical cyclones, one to drought, and one to wildfires. The total for those 22 disasters came to $95 billion in damages. Since 1980, the U.S. alone has been hit with 285 weather and climate disasters totaling at least $1 billion each.
Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people.
Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.
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#50. Hurricane Sally
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $7.3 billion
- Total deaths: 5
- Begin date: Sept. 15, 2020
- End date: Sept. 17, 2020
Hurricane Sally was the first to make landfall in Alabama since 2004’s Hurricane Ivan. The Atlantic hurricane’s strongest effects were along the southern end of the state in and around the Gulf and the Florida panhandle.
#49. Hurricane Gustav
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $7.4 billion
- Total deaths: 53
- Begin date: Aug. 31, 2008
- End date: Sept. 3, 2008
In August 2008, 1.9 million people evacuated Louisiana—the most in that state's history—in preparation for Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall on Aug. 31 and raged until Sept. 3. High winds, storm surges, high tides, and flooding affected not only Louisiana but also Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Other areas affected included the Caribbean, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic where nearly 180 people were killed and tens of thousands were left homeless.
#48. Western, Central, and Southeast US drought and heatwave (2000)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $7.7 billion
- Total deaths: 140
- Begin date: March 1, 2000
- End date: Nov. 30, 2000
By the summer of 2000, 19 states across Western, Central, and Southeast United States suffered from an intense drought and heatwave that killed 140 people. The extreme dryness and heat also gave rise to the worst wildfire in 50 years in the West. Across the United States, 74,571 fires burned more than 6.6 million acres. More than 35% of the contiguous United States was enduring severe to extreme drought conditions by the end of August.
#47. Hurricane Isabel
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $7.8 billion
- Total deaths: 55
- Begin date: Sept. 18, 2003
- End date: Sept. 19, 2003
Category 2 Hurricane Isabel and its 100 mph raging winds hit land between North Carolina's Cape Lookout and Ocracoke Island on Sept. 18, 2003. Some 700,000 inhabitants lost power, and one out of every two or three trees was ripped from the ground. The coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland were affected by considerable storm surge. In Washington D.C. tidal flooding records were exceeded. Seven other states were subjected to Isabel's fury as wind damage and 4 to 12 inches of rain pounded the East Coast.
#46. Midwest, Plains, and Southeast drought (2006)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $7.9 billion
- Total deaths:
- Begin date: March 1, 2006
- End date: Aug. 31, 2006
In the late winter and into the late summer of 2006, a drought with its eye on the Great Plains region also wreaked havoc in states across the Midwest and Southeast—by July, 52% of the contiguous United States was suffering from moderate to extreme drought. The drought affected crops and water sources, as well as livestock, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to proclaim drought disasters in many states.
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#45. Southeast Drought (1983)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $7.9 billion
- Total deaths:
- Begin date: June 1, 1983
- End date: Aug. 31, 1983
In the summer of 1983, many states in the Southeast experienced a rather severe flash drought. Eleven states were affected, and in Kentucky, Louisville saw its second-worst drought in the 20th century, experiencing dryness so severe that most of the state's vegetation was forced into dormancy and many towns suffered water shortages.
#44. Hurricane Alicia
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $8.0 billion
- Total deaths: 21
- Begin date: Aug. 17, 1983
- End date: Aug. 20, 1983
After a three-year, hurricane-free streak in the U.S., Category 3 Hurricane Alicia made landfall in Galveston, Texas, Aug. 17, 1983. The storm brought with it winds up to 100 mph and gusts up to 127 mph. The storm also set off record-breaking numbers of tornadoes in southeast Texas with 14 being reported in one day. Nine more ravaged Houston on day two. In all, 3,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, 21 people were killed, thousands were injured, and, at the time, Hurricane Alicia set a record in Texas for the $7.7 billion in damages it caused.
#43. Hurricane Opal
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $8.1 billion
- Total deaths: 27
- Begin date: Oct. 4, 1995
- End date: Oct. 6, 1995
In October 1995 the Southeast endured the wrath of Category 3 Hurricane Opal. The hurricane ravaged Florida, Alabama, western Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and the western Carolinas with its gusting winds and flooding. Most of the damage came from storm surges of up to 10 to 15 feet along the coastal areas of the Florida panhandle. More than 1,300 homes and 1,000 boats were destroyed or extensively damaged. Left in the hurricane's wake was a massive $7.87 billion bill for such things as destroyed water and sewer systems, roadways, and phone and electric utilities.
#42. Hurricane Fran
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $8.5 billion
- Total deaths: 37
- Begin date: Sept. 5, 1996
- End date: Sept. 8, 1996
In early September 1996, Hurricane Fran hit land at the tip of Cape Fear, N.C., and moved into Virginia with 115 mph sustained winds. Twenty-six people died in the Category 3 hurricane that left North Carolina with its costliest bill from a climate disaster—$8.16 billion—at the time. Some areas saw more than 10 inches of rain and 24-hour downpours, and Fran caused significant agricultural losses, as well.
#41. U.S. drought (2008)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $8.6 billion
- Total deaths:
- Begin date: Jan. 1, 2008
- End date: Dec. 31, 2008
More than half of the country was affected by a prolonged drought that included large parts of the Southeast, West, the Great Plains, northwestern Great Lakes, and south-central Texas. The drought contributed to agricultural and livestock losses and many communities adopted water and burning restrictions. In Tennessee, the governor declared an agricultural disaster in 39 counties. North Dakota saw its driest winter in 114 years, and Minnesota saw its second-driest.
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#40. South Plains Severe Weather
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $9.5 billion
- Total deaths: 32
- Begin date: May 5, 1995
- End date: May 7, 1995
In early May 1995, the South Plains region, including Texas, Oklahoma, southeast Louisiana, and Mississippi, saw severe weather and storms that included heavy rains, hail, and tornadoes. New Orleans, was the hardest hit experiencing 10 to 25 inches of rain over five days. All told, 32 people died and the severe weather caused more than $9 billion damage.
#39. Hurricane Georges
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $9.6 billion
- Total deaths: 16
- Begin date: Sept. 20, 1998
- End date: Sept. 29, 1998
The second-most catastrophic hurricane in the Atlantic basin for 1998 was Category 2 Hurricane Georges which struck Sept. 20. Georges ravaged Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Florida Keys, and the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Some areas had totals of 1 to 2 feet of rain over two days. In the end, 602 people died, mostly in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and the hurricane caused more than $9 billion in damage.
#38. East Coast Blizzard and Severe Weather
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $10.1 billion
- Total deaths: 270
- Begin date: March 11, 1993
- End date: March 14, 1993
On March 11, 1993, “The Storm of the Century”—the most catastrophic and expensive winter storm in the United States since 1980—hit the entire East Coast with blizzards and severe weather that left many Eastern and Northeastern states under 2 to 4 feet of snow, and enduring hurricane-like winds, flooding, or tornadoes. Power was out to more than 10 million homes as the storm covered more than 550,000 square miles and affected almost 120 million people. All told, 270 people died in 13 states and 48 people were reported missing at sea.
#37. Hurricane Floyd
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $10.3 billion
- Total deaths: 77
- Begin date: Sept. 14, 1999
- End date: Sept. 16, 1999
On Sept. 14, 1999, Category 2 Hurricane Floyd struck the East Coast, hitting North Carolina first and the hardest. Twelve other states were affected and 10 were declared major disaster areas. The large size and range of Floyd resulted in heavier and longer-lasting rains—10 to 20 inches over two days in some areas. The largest peacetime evacuation in the United States occurred as more than 2.6 million fled their homes. The total death count was 77, with 51 in North Carolina. More than 80,000 homes were destroyed or damaged and 500,000 households were without electricity.
#36. Hurricane Jeanne
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $10.6 billion
- Total deaths: 28
- Begin date: Sept. 15, 2004
- End date: Sept. 29, 2004
Florida was hit by its fourth and final hurricane for a record-breaking year on Sept. 26, 2004, when Hurricane Jeanne made landfall on Hutchinson Island. The Category 3 hurricane was the deadliest and costliest of the 2004 season. After rampaging through Florida with 115 mph winds and heavy rain, Jeanne continued up the coast, hitting nine more states. It was the 12th- deadliest Atlantic hurricane and the 15th-most expensive in U.S. history.
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#35. Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $10.7 billion
- Total deaths: 177
- Begin date: May 22, 2011
- End date: May 27, 2011
In May 2011, a flurry of tornadoes—an estimated 180—broke out all over the central and southern United States, resulting in 177 deaths and making that year the seventh-deadliest for tornado fatalities.
#34. Missouri River and North Central Flooding
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $10.9 billion
- Total deaths: 3
- Begin date: March 14, 2019
- End date: March 31, 2019
Rising rivers throughout the northern and central Plains in March 2019 flooded farms, towns, and cities. The flooding was caused by an aggressive storm system throughout the central U.S. that brought heavy winds, whiteout snow conditions, and downpours all the way from Colorado to North Dakota.
#33. Hurricane Matthew
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $11.0 billion
- Total deaths: 49
- Begin date: Oct. 8, 2016
- End date: Oct. 12, 2016
After skirting along Florida's coastline, Hurricane Matthew struck on Oct. 8, 2016, just south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Flooding significantly affected coastal Georgia, the eastern Carolinas, and southeast Virginia, and North Carolina experienced historic levels of river flooding. More than 100,000 homes and businesses were damaged. The flooding also wreaked havoc on agriculture, leading to huge losses in poultry, orchards, vegetables, and other crops. Hurricane Matthew was recorded as reaching Category 5 intensity at the lowest altitude in the Atlantic Basin ever and resulted in at least 585 deaths.
#32. Louisiana Flooding
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $11.0 billion
- Total deaths: 13
- Begin date: Aug. 12, 2016
- End date: Aug. 15, 2016
For three days in August 2016, Louisiana was drenched in as many as 30 inches of heavy rain, causing historic flooding in a majority of its southern region. At least 20 parishes were declared disaster areas. More than 70,000 homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged, 30,000 people had to be rescued, and at least 13 died as a result of the most destructive flooding since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
#31. Central Severe Weather - Derecho
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $11.0 billion
- Total deaths: 4
- Begin date: Aug. 10, 2020
- End date: Aug. 10, 2020
A derecho—a line of powerful, quick windstorms sometimes joined by thunderstorms traversing a large expanse of land—pushed its way over the Midwest in the summer of 2020, causing damage in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The winds were powerful enough to create tornadoes. Power outages and property damage affected millions of people.
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#30. Western/Plains drought and heatwave (2013)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $11.8 billion
- Total deaths: 53
- Begin date: March 1, 2013
- End date: Nov. 30, 2013
2013 was a dry year for every state west of the Mississippi River as each experienced some level of drought and heat wave conditions. The drought began in the Midwest and Plains states and spread to Western states in March. By September, more than 50% of the contiguous United States was in a state of drought. California experienced its driest year on record as 97% of the state suffered from drought.
#29. Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $12.1 billion
- Total deaths: 321
- Begin date: April 25, 2011
- End date: April 28, 2011
Over the course of three days, 343 tornadoes spawned in at least 13 states—with a particular proclivity for metropolitan areas—in the Central and Southern United States in what was one of the deadliest, most destructive outbreaks in history. Alabama was hit the hardest as an EF-4 tornado struck in the northern region, affecting Tuscaloosa and Birmingham and killing at least 78 people and injuring thousands more. In the wake of hundreds of other tornadoes and three EF-5 level strikes, thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed or significantly damaged.
#28. Midwest Flooding (2008)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $12.2 billion
- Total deaths: 24
- Begin date: April 1, 2008
- End date: June 30, 2008
The Midwest was subjected to continued heavy rain as storm system after storm system rolled through in 2008. Billions of dollars in agricultural loss and property damage were the result of mass flooding in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Historic water levels were reported all over the Midwest with some exceeding 500-year levels.
#27. Tropical Storm Allison
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $12.7 billion
- Total deaths: 43
- Begin date: June 5, 2001
- End date: June 17, 2001
On June 5, 2001, the deadliest and costliest tropical or subtropical storm struck, bringing heavy rains to Texas and Louisiana, which each saw rainfall between 30 and 40 inches. Severe flooding followed, and Allison headed northeast to Mississippi, Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Each state had loss of life and property; in all, at least 45,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, thousands of public facilities and businesses were damaged, and 43 were killed.
#26. U.S. drought (2002)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $13.2 billion
- Total deaths:
- Begin date: March 1, 2002
- End date: Nov. 30, 2002
2002 was another dry year with at least 39% of the contiguous United States experiencing severe to extreme drought in July. The longstanding drought was decreased to 22% of the contiguous United States by the end of December because storms brought heavy rains. The affected regions had the lowest precipitation levels in history, affecting water sources, and destroying crops and pastureland. Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon endured large wildfires that year, as well.
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#25. Hurricane Frances
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $13.8 billion
- Total deaths: 48
- Begin date: Sept. 3, 2004
- End date: Sept. 9, 2004
Making landfall on Sept. 5 on the Florida peninsula near Sewall's Point, Category 2 Hurricane Frances started its course of destruction along the Southeast with its 105 mph winds and heavy rains that caused mass flooding and spawned more than 117 tornadoes. Florida's citrus crop was devastated, and more than 1.8 million residents lost electricity. Georgia, the Carolinas, and New York also sustained significant damage from flooding by 6 to 20 inches of rain, and 48 were killed in the storm's course.
#24. Southern Plains/Southwest drought and heatwave
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $14.1 billion
- Total deaths: 95
- Begin date: March 1, 2011
- End date: Aug. 31, 2011
From March to the end of August in 2011, severe drought and heatwaves impacted much of the Southern Plains and Southwest United States. Range and pasture lands were in poor condition for much of the 2011 growing season and the drought took its toll on Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, and Louisiana. At least 95 people died.
#23. Hurricane Irene
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $15.9 billion
- Total deaths: 45
- Begin date: Aug. 26, 2011
- End date: Aug. 28, 2011
Hurricane Irene hit land in North Carolina before moving up the East Coast, affecting eight other states, perhaps none more so than Vermont. The true beast of the Category 1 hurricane was its torrential rainfall that caused mass flooding. Vermont saw more than 11 inches of rain and more than $733 million in damage. More than seven million people lost power and 45 were killed, and Irene also spawned numerous tornadoes. In New York, which also sustained massive rains, thousands of flights were canceled and major transportation services were shut down.
#22. Western Wildfires - California, Oregon, Washington Firestorms (2020)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $16.5 billion
- Total deaths: 46
- Begin date: Aug. 1, 2020
- End date: Dec. 30, 2020
2020’s western U.S. wildfire season was one for the history books that capped off an already turbulent year for people all over the world. The blazes were touched off by a series of August thunderstorms in California, Oregon, and Washington and expanded by powerful winds across dry landscapes and forests.
#21. Western Wildfires, California Firestorm (2017)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $18.9 billion
- Total deaths: 54
- Begin date: June 1, 2017
- End date: Dec. 31, 2017
Over the summer of 2017, many parts of the western United States and California experienced historic firestorms causing more than $18 billion in damage—the costliest wildfire series in history. About 9,000 massive wildfires ripped through Northern California in October burning over 1.2 million acres, destroying more than 15,000 homes and businesses, and killing 44. More wildfires broke out across other western states, roasting 9.8 million acres in their paths. The resulting smoke was so extreme over Labor Day weekend that its cloud traveled all the way to Paris.
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#20. Hurricane Laura
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $19.0 billion
- Total deaths: 42
- Begin date: Aug. 27, 2020
- End date: Aug. 28, 2020
Hurricane Laura is tied with the 1856 Last Island hurricane as the most powerful on record to make landfall in Louisiana. It was the 12th named storm of the record-setting 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
#19. Hurricane Hugo
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $19.3 billion
- Total deaths: 86
- Begin date: Sept. 21, 1989
- End date: Sept. 22, 1989
In September 1989, Category 4 Hurricane Hugo left the Carolinas with astronomical damage caused by its 140 mph winds and storm surges. The event also mesmerized the country as the drama of Hugo—the most destructive hurricane at that time—unfolded. In Bull's Bay just north of Charleston, South Carolina, a nearly 20-foot storm surge devoured the town. In the Carolinas alone, Hugo destroyed or damaged more than 100,000 homes and killed at least 19 people.
#18. Hurricane Charley
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $22.6 billion
- Total deaths: 35
- Begin date: Aug. 13, 2004
- End date: Aug. 14, 2004
In the middle of August 2004, Category 4 Hurricane Charley hit land near the Punta Gorda area in southwest Florida. The 145 mph winds and storm surges resulted in major damage to coastal areas resulting in thousands of homes and businesses being destroyed, 2 million without electricity, and 25 of Florida's 67 counties declared as federal disaster areas. Charley continued northeast up the coast, devastating Florida's citrus crop and bringing heavy rains and gusting winds into the Carolinas and Virginia.
#17. Western Wildfires, California Firestorm (2018)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $24.7 billion
- Total deaths: 106
- Begin date: June 1, 2018
- End date: Dec. 31, 2018
2018’s wildfire season stands as the deadliest, most destructive in California's recorded history. A major contributor to the severity of the fires was an increased volume of dead tree fuel.
#16. Hurricane Florence
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $24.7 billion
- Total deaths: 53
- Begin date: Sept. 13, 2018
- End date: Sept. 16, 2018
Though Hurricane Florence made landfall as a Category 1 storm, it was slow-moving and large and produced intense wind and rain damage to the Carolinas. Florence brought forth 100 mph winds, storm surges as high as nine to 13 feet, and 20 to 35 inches of rain. The amount of rainfall was the biggest factor for why Florence was so devastating and deadly—51 fatalities resulted—as flood-height records were surpassed.
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#15. Hurricane Rita
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $25.2 billion
- Total deaths: 119
- Begin date: Sept. 20, 2005
- End date: Sept. 24, 2005
Hurricane Rita hugely impacted the Texas-Louisiana border coastal region, but also affected the Florida panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The Category 3 hurricane brought strong storm surges of up to 15 feet, wind damage, and inland flooding, and spawned at least 92 tornadoes. At least 119 people were killed, but most of the deaths came as 3.7 million Texans attempted to evacuate, causing a huge traffic jam—some stranded for an entire day. More than 100 people died.
#14. Hurricane Michael
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $25.7 billion
- Total deaths: 49
- Begin date: Oct. 10, 2018
- End date: Oct. 11, 2018
Hurricane Michael was the first Category 5 hurricane to hit the U.S. since 1992’s Hurricane Andrew. The storm made landfall around Mexico Beach, Florida, gradually moving inland and losing strength as it moved northeast to Georgia and southern Virginia.
#13. Hurricane Wilma
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $25.8 billion
- Total deaths: 35
- Begin date: Oct. 24, 2005
- End date: Oct. 24, 2005
Category 3 Hurricane Wilma collided with southwest Florida touching down near Everglades City on Oct. 24, 2005. Wilma—with its maximum sustained 120 mph winds and heavy rains—resulted in heavy flooding as it hurried across the state touching on the Miami/Fort Lauderdale region and exited to the coast again the same day. At least 10 people were killed and 6 million lost power—the most in Florida history. Wilma was recorded as a Category 5 at the lowest pressure ever in the Atlantic Basin while still offshore and as the most rapidly intensifying with a 105 mph increase in wind speed in just a day.
#12. Hurricane Ivan
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $28.9 billion
- Total deaths: 57
- Begin date: Sept. 12, 2004
- End date: Sept. 21, 2004
Category 3 Hurricane Ivan came ashore on the Gulf Coast of Alabama on Sept. 16, bringing 130 mph winds, heavy rains, storm surges, and extreme flooding that affected 17 states. Ivan also spawned more than 100 tornadoes, and waves reached as high as 50 feet along the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. Hurricane Ivan caused almost $28 billion in damage, and at least 57 people were killed. As a result of Hurricane Ivan and three other hurricanes in 2004, more than one out of every five houses in Florida sustained some kind of damage.
#11. Central/Eastern drought and heatwave (1980)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $33.5 billion
- Total deaths: 1,260
- Begin date: June 1, 1980
- End date: Nov. 30, 1980
The 1980 U.S. drought and heatwave covered a 42-day streak of 100-plus-degree days, making it the longest-lasting in the central-eastern region's history. The drought of 1980 tied or met 29 daily high temperature records and hit many other records. It also caused significant damage to agriculture, and led to at least 1,200 deaths. Another remarkable thing about the 1980 drought was the media coverage, which became obsessive. As the U.S. media ran out of coverage ideas while the drought and heatwave dragged on for months, media crews from all over the world stepped on the scene.
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#10. U.S. drought and heatwave (2012)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $34.5 billion
- Total deaths: 123
- Begin date: Jan. 1, 2012
- End date: Dec. 31, 2012
Since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the U.S. drought and heatwaves in 2012 were the most impactful and destructive. About 56% of the contiguous United States was affected by moderate to extreme drought. Many parts of the country saw huge agricultural losses, and the drought caused 123 direct deaths.
#9. Hurricane Ike
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $36.9 billion
- Total deaths: 112
- Begin date: Sept. 12, 2008
- End date: Sept. 14, 2008
Category 2 Hurricane Ike—the most intense of 2008—struck the Texas coastline on Sept. 13. Ike's tropical storm winds exceeded Hurricane Katrina's and its massive size likened it to a category 5 storm with 15-foot waves pummeling the coasts along the Gulf from Texas to Florida and spawning 29 tornadoes. Ike affected 11 states resulting in 103 direct fatalities; a month after the storm passed, 157 people were still missing.
#8. Midwest flooding (1993)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $38.1 billion
- Total deaths: 48
- Begin date: June 27, 1993
- End date: Aug. 15, 1993
In the summer of 1993, the Midwest and the central United States went through the most devastating and costly non-tropical, inland flooding on record in U.S. history. More than 17 million acres across nine states were drowned in water. Hundreds of levees broke along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, killing 48 people and destroying more than 50,000 homes. The flooding had significant impacts on agriculture and infrastructure but also halted all railroad traffic across the Midwest. In addition, 10 commercial airports flooded, and some places along the Mississippi River remained flooded for six months.
#7. US drought and heatwave (1988)
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $45.0 billion
- Total deaths: 454
- Begin date: June 1, 1988
- End date: Aug. 31, 1988
One of the worst droughts since the 1930s Dust Bowl occurred in the summer of 1988 when at least 45% of the contiguous United States suffered sweltering temperatures and lack of rain. The drought lasted from June until the end of August and resulted in 454 direct deaths and upwards of 5,000 indirect fatalities, as well as significant losses in agriculture and related industries. The Mississippi River barely trickled, and temperatures rocketed up to 110 degrees in some areas.
#6. Hurricane Andrew
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $50.8 billion
- Total deaths: 61
- Begin date: Aug. 23, 1992
- End date: Aug. 27, 1992
Category 5 Hurricane Andrew slammed Florida in August 1992 with 175 mph winds that damaged or destroyed more than 125,000 homes, stripping many down to their concrete foundations. Some 160,000 people were displaced in Miami-Dade County alone. Hurricane Andrew is one of only three Category 5 hurricanes to affect the U.S. mainland and resulted in the deaths of 61 people. It also destroyed Homestead Air Force Base. The positives to come out of the disaster were overhauls of state building codes, the insurance industry, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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#5. Hurricane Irma
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $52.5 billion
- Total deaths: 97
- Begin date: Sept. 6, 2017
- End date: Sept. 12, 2017
Category 4 Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys destroying or damaging more than 80% of its buildings. As Irma moved along the coast, the 185 mph winds, tornadoes, and storm surges hit nine states. Florida and South Carolina were the most affected. Jacksonville and Charleston had historic levels of storm surge, which caused severe coastal flooding that left millions without electricity. Irma is both the strongest hurricane documented outside of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea and the longest-lasting, with sustained 185 mph winds over 37 hours.
#4. Hurricane Sandy
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $74.8 billion
- Total deaths: 159
- Begin date: Oct. 30, 2012
- End date: Oct. 31, 2012
Hurricane Sandy—“Superstorm Sandy”—struck at the end of October 2012, directly affecting 24 states and all of the U.S. eastern seaboard, wreaking havoc from flash flooding and storm surges to blizzard-like conditions. Sandy resulted in 159 deaths and is the fourth-costliest U.S. storm, causing more than $72 billion in damage. The New York Stock Exchange was forced to close for two consecutive business days for the first time since 1888, and a 14-foot surge caused Manhattan's subway system to sustain its worst damage in 108 years because tunnels were flooded. More than 8.5 million people lost power, and more than 20,000 flights were canceled.
#3. Hurricane Maria
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $94.5 billion
- Total deaths: 2,981
- Begin date: Sept. 19, 2017
- End date: Sept. 21, 2017
In September 2017, Category 4 Hurricane Maria affected many parts of the United States, but the impact was felt the most in Puerto Rico. After claiming the lives of at least 2,981 people and resulting in more than $90 billion in damage, Hurricane Maria became one of the deadliest and costliest climate disasters in U.S. history. The mass flooding and mudslides in Puerto Rico devastated the country's economy, infrastructure, and living conditions. The hurricane also was one of most rapidly intensifying storms, going from a tropical depression to a Category 5 Hurricane in less than 54 hours.
#2. Hurricane Harvey
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $131.3 billion
- Total deaths: 89
- Begin date: Aug. 25, 2017
- End date: Aug. 31, 2017
At the end of August 2017, Category 4 Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas, spawning more than 30 tornadoes and heavy winds, and dumping 30 to 50 inches of rain on 13 million people in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In Houston—the nation's fourth-largest city, at least 3,900 people still had no power almost three weeks after the storm, and national gas prices rose as 25% of oil and gas production was shut down in the region. At one point, 75% of Harris County, which encompasses Houston, was under 1.5 feet of water. Massive flooding displaced over 30,000 people and damaged or destroyed over 200,000 homes and businesses.
#1. Hurricane Katrina
- Total cost (inflation-adjusted): $170.0 billion
- Total deaths: 1,833
- Begin date: Aug. 25, 2005
- End date: Aug. 30, 2005
On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina—the costliest and one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history—made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana, as a Category 3 storm with 127 mph winds and severe storm surges, some in excess of 30 feet. Katrina affected 90,000 square U.S. miles and at least eight states, with most of the damage occurring in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana—particularly New Orleans. At least 50 levees failed in New Orleans resulting in devastating mass flooding. By the end, 1,833 people had been killed, including 1,577 in Louisiana, and more than one million people had been displaced. Two of the region's biggest industries—oil and gas—suffered greatly and tourism to the coastal communities died as infrastructure continued to erode. From April 2000 to July 2006, New Orleans' population decreased by more than half.
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CNN's Carma Hassan and Maggie Fox contributed to this report.
