Photos Show the Possible $20 Billion Worth of Damage Caused by Hurricane Idalia

Record-Breaking Storm Surges Bring Disastrous Flooding

Flooding was the leading cause of concern for Hurricane Idalia, though devastating winds and additional hazards magnify the scope of destruction as it churned across Florida. Although the sky is clear, the danger is far from over. Hurricane Idalia may have made landfall over 24 hours ago, but citizens will feel the full magnitude of its effects for some time.

Many major bridges connecting the islands throughout Florida are now inaccessible due to floodwaters, and concerns about major flooding were increasing as high tide approached. Some of these areas may remain inaccessible for the foreseeable future until the water recedes and the roads clear.

How Much Damage Was Done?

According to preliminary cost estimates from Moody’s, Hurricane Idalia caused between $12 billion and $20 billion of damage. Although this may seem like a huge amount, it's not nearly as much as 2022's Hurricane Ian which caused over $112 billion in damage, making it the third costliest hurricane in US history.

More damage could have been caused if it weren't for two factors: the first being the speed at which Idalia moved through the region and where the storm made landfall. The Big Bend region of Florida is less populated and contains fewer structures than other parts of the state. Not to mention, the property values are lower in this area than others.

Officials stated that they are grateful residents took heed of the warnings and evacuations or else many lives could have been lost.

What's Next for Hurricane Idalia?

While Hurricane Idalia is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Wednesday afternoon, Georgia and South Carolina are next in line for heavy rainfall, flash flooding and even the possibility of tornadoes.

On Wednesday evening, over 460,000 people across Florida and Georgia remained without power. Approximately 4,000 homes in Pasco County, Florida, sustained heavy damage, with the most damage reported along the coast, where houses were quickly inundated with water.

The storm will sweep along the South Carolina shoreline before exiting off the coast and back into the Atlantic. Some meteorologists studying Hurricane Idalia's projected path are surprised at some models indicating a potential return to Florida sometime next week.

While Meteorologists use several model projections to determine the most likely course of storms, two models hint that the storm system may loop back around and return to the coastline after it moves into the Atlantic Ocean, however they find this to be unlikely.

A hurricane looping across a similar track is not unheard of, especially during turbulent storm seasons. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan did just that, moving between Cuba and the Yucatan before arriving in the Gulf of Mexico.

Eventually, Ivan landed in Alabama and swept across southern Florida as a tropical depression. It then looped into the gulf and made a third landfall in Louisiana. While it's difficult to make such a prediction this far out, the path of Idalia is certainly worth watching.