Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida in October, precipitated about $25 billion in insured losses, the most important quantity of insured losses from any pure catastrophe in 2024, in line with an evaluation by Munich RE, a world insurance coverage and reinsurance firm.
Total losses from Milton totaled about $38 billion, as not all losses had been insured.
Munich RE, which launched the data Thursday, mentioned Hurricane Helene precipitated the most important quantity of total losses in 2024, at $56 billion, with $16 billion in insured losses.
Helene made landfall in late September in North Florida’s Taylor County earlier than inflicting main injury in different states akin to Georgia and North Carolina. Milton made landfall in Sarasota County earlier than barreling throughout Florida.
Munich RE mentioned on its web site that Milton was “barely weaker” than Helene when it made landfall.
“However, it produced the very best insured losses of the yr, totalling ($25 billion) — though it narrowly missed the Tampa metropolitan space,” Munich RE mentioned. “It drove a storm surge into Southwest Florida and lower a swathe of wind injury proper throughout the state. This led to a complete lack of ($38 billion).”
One Orlando-area man died in Hurricane Milton. Right here’s his story.
Losses may not be insured, for instance, as a result of property-insurance insurance policies sometimes don’t cowl flood injury. Many owners don’t purchase separate flood insurance coverage.
Munich RE mentioned Helene’s wind speeds had been “not the principle reason for the excessive claims burden. Within the storm’s wake, extreme flooding from heavy rain unfold northward into the Appalachian areas from Georgia to North Carolina. Greater than 200 folks misplaced their lives.”
The storm not solely precipitated injury in Central Florida, it killed an Orange County man believed to be the one Orlando metropolitan space fatality of Milton, which killed dozens throughout the state.
Harry “Hap” Hopkins was present in his yard northwest of Orlando, the place he apparently stepped on a downed energy line Oct. 10 whereas clearing particles, in line with the Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace. Hopkins traveled to North Florida every week earlier than his demise to assist clear up particles from Hurricane Helene and in 2022 made journeys to Fort Myers and St. Johns County to assist with restoration after Hurricane Ian.
Hopkins, 67, a Central Florida native and retired agent with the Florida Division of Regulation Enforcement, was remembered by pals as a deeply spiritual man who would do something for these he beloved.
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