10 Costliest Catastrophes in the U.S.

By Michael DeSenne, Kiplinger.com

10. Hurricane Rita

Year: 2005
Areas affected: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas
Insured losses (then): $5.6 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $6.5 billion

9. Hurricane Hugo

Year: 1989
Areas affected: Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands
Insured losses (then): $4.2 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $7.6 billion

8. Hurricane Ivan

Year: 2004
Areas affected: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Insured losses (then): $7.1 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $8.5 billion

7. Hurricane Charley

Year: 2004
Areas affected: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina
Insured losses (then): $7.5 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $8.9 billion

6. Hurricane Wilma

Year: 2005
Areas affected: Florida
Insured losses (then): $10.3 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $11.9 billion

5. Hurricane Ike

Year: 2008
Areas affected: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas
Insured losses (then): $12.5 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $13.1 billion

4. Northridge, Cal., Earthquake

Year: 1994
Areas affected: California
Insured losses (then): $12.5 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $19.0 billion

3. 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Year: 2001
Areas affected: New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia
Insured losses (then): $18.8 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $23.9 billion

2. Hurricane Andrew

Year: 1992
Areas affected: Florida, Louisiana
Insured losses (then): $15.5 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $24.9 billion

1. Hurricane Katrina

Year: 2005
Areas affected: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee
Insured losses (then): $41.1 billion
Insured losses (in 2011 dollars): $47.5 billion

Source : news.yahoo.com