HARVEY THE COSTLIEST NATURAL DISASTER IN U.S. HISTORY - $160 BILLION

Harvey to be costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, with an estimated cost of $160 billion

Doyle Rice, USA TODAYPublished 9:56 a.m. ET Aug. 30, 2017 | Updated 2:12 p.m. ET Aug. 30, 2017

Hurricane Harvey could be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history with a potential price tag of $160 billion, according to a preliminary estimate from private weather firm AccuWeather.

This is equal to the combined cost of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and represents a 0.8% economic hit to the gross national product, AccuWeather said.

“Parts of Houston, the United States' fourth largest city, will be uninhabitable for weeks and possibly months due to water damage, mold, disease-ridden water and all that will follow this 1,000-year flood,” said AccuWeather president Joel Myers.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/08/30/harvey-costliest-natural-disaster-u-s-history-estimated-cost-160-billion/615708001/#