Hurricane Ian, which killed more than 150 people as it rushed across the southeast coast of the United States, was the most expensive tropical storm in Florida history, causing $109 billion (£87 billion) in damage.
Ian was also the third most expensive hurricane in US history, causing a total of $112 billion (£89 billion) in damage in September 2022.
According to a report released on Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Florida was the hardest hit, with nearly 70 people killed by the hurricane.
The hurricane reached Category 5 strength before dropping to Category 4, making it one of the most intense tropical storms on record, with gusts estimated at 161mph (259kph) off the coast of Florida on September 28.
Winds of 150mph (241kph) were recorded in Florida after landfall. Storm surges of up to 4 metres (15 feet) were also recorded at Fort Myers Beach on the state’s west coast.
According to the NOAA assessment, “Ian made landfall in a location especially vulnerable to storm surge.” “The catastrophic storm surge and wind left a large swath of total damage in southwestern Florida.”
Drowning from the storm surge was the major cause of death, accounting for 41 deaths, with 12 additional fatalities owing to inland floods. The storm was directly responsible for 66 deaths in Florida, according to the report.
There were 156 fatalities in the United States, including indirect deaths such as heart attacks, electrocution from power lines, inability to seek medical aid, and vehicle accidents, with victims ranging in age from 6 to 101.
During Hurricane Ian, more than nine million people in the United States lost electricity, and tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.
