Hurricane Milton highlights the risks of Florida’s development surge

On October 9th, Hurricane Milton struck Florida, following closely after Hurricane Helene. The storm has left millions without power and confirmed several fatalities, with a complete assessment of its impact expected to take weeks.

As a Category 3 hurricane, Milton is projected to cost insurers around $100B, making it one of the most costly hurricanes in U.S. history. The increasing destructiveness of storms can be attributed partly to climate change. Warmer seas provide more energy for hurricanes, while higher temperatures allow air to hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall. Additionally, rising sea levels from melting ice exacerbate storm surges. Notably, nine out of the ten most expensive hurricanes in America have occurred within the last two decades when adjusted for inflation.

Source: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/10/10/hurricane-milton-exposes-the-dangers-of-floridas-development-boom