Helene estimated to be the 7th costliest hurricane on record

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — On Sept. 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida. But it was Sept. 27, when the rain from then-tropical storm Helene pushed an already flooded western North Carolina to its worst and deadliest flood event in state history.

Direct U.S. fatalities from Helene totaled 174 across seven states: Florida (18), Georgia (26), South Carolina (26), North Carolina (84), Tennessee (15), Virginia (2) and Indiana (1).

Some final stats about Helene:

• Most direct deaths from a tropical cyclone in the continental United States since Katrina (2005) – 174 total
• Most freshwater fatalities in a U.S. tropical cyclone since Agnes (1972) – 93 total
• Most wind fatalities in a U.S. tropical cyclone since 1963 – 65 total
• Indirect fatalities – 67
• Estimated total damage – $79.6 Billion

NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) consults with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) annually to update its list of the costliest United States tropical cyclones. Hurricane Helene easily made the top 10.

Hurricane Milton caused over $34 billion in damage in October 2024 but missed the top 10, ranking as the 11th costliest hurricane ever recorded.

Helene’s final death total was over 200 people across several states and was the most in North Carolina history. The last event totaling over 200 indirect and direct tropical cyclone fatalities was from Katrina in 2005. 

There are still around 185 roads closed in Western North Carolina as of Jan. 16 because of Helene and it will still take years to get those areas impacted back to normal.

By the spring, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will officially retire Helene the name will never be used again for a hurricane.