Supply Chains & Damage Claims: Hurricanes and Their Impact

Hurricanes—also known as tropical cyclones—are powerful, cyclonic storms that bring gusting wind, torrential rain, storm surge, and severe flooding to thousands of communities in the U.S. They result in  billions of dollars of damage  to the U.S., impact millions of lives, and disrupt economically vital industry operations. This StoryMap overviews NOAA’s hurricane data and tools that inform and prepare the public and the major U.S. industries participating in NOAA's  Industry Proving Grounds  initiatives for the impacts of hurricanes. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) and National Weather Service (NWS) are the authoritative sources for information during hurricane season, but other line offices at NOAA also provide valuable resources for information about hurricanes and their impacts. Navigate through the tabs of this StoryMap to learn how NOAA tools can help inform industry decision-making before, during, and after hurricane season. 

Definition:  Tropical cyclones  are “rotating, organized systems of clouds and thunderstorms that originate over tropical or subtropical waters and have closed, low-level circulation.” The names of these systems vary depending on their location on the Earth. In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, tropical cyclones are called hurricanes. In the Northwest Pacific, they are known as typhoons. In the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the generic name “tropical cyclone” is used.

NOAA provides hurricane data before, during, and after hurricane season. Industry leaders can use NOAA data to make decisions and ensure that their employees are safe and that operations can continue. Architects and engineers can use the tools and data NOAA provides on the  future  of hurricanes as they aim to create resilient infrastructure in the years to come; the retail industry may be interested in how NOAA data can be used  before  and  during  hurricane seasons to ensure their stores are stocked with hurricane supplies; and the insurance industry may be interested in the tools NOAA provides  before  and  following  hurricane season to inform insurance policies. 

Hurricanes disrupt major U.S. industry operations. Take, for example, the retail industry: During a hurricane, major ports may halt operations, sending delays that resonate down the supply chain to retailers. A hurricane may also delay other distribution methods, such as ground transportation. This disruption can cause a shortage of goods for consumers and loss of revenue for companies. When prepping for hurricanes, consumers urgently buy safety supplies like sandbags and generators. With back-to-back hurricanes disrupting key transportation routes, retailers and supply chain managers must plan for these disruptions ahead of the hurricane season. NOAA’s weather and climate data allow key personnel to plan for and build a more resilient supply chain that allows the flow of goods to the consumer when they need it most. Explore more in the different tabs.

It is important for the public and U.S. industries to take inventory of potential hurricane risks prior to the start of the season. This happens in a variety of ways, including:

• The public may fortify their homes against effects like storm surge, flooding, and extreme wind.
• Retailers may check to ensure their assets are safe from the impacts of hurricanes, and plan ahead for possible supply chain disruptions.
• Architects and engineers may study the latest climate and weather data to ensure that future coastal buildings can withstand hurricane impacts in the years to come.
• Insurance companies may analyze hurricane frequency and severity trends over the next 10 to 30 years—along with their associated impacts—for future risk assessments and insurance underwriting.

The U.S.’ public and industries may examine their vulnerability to the impacts of hurricanes, like storm surge, by exploring NOAA’s  Digital Coast tool . The National Ocean Service (NOS) Office of Coastal Management (OCM) hosts a suite of tools available at the digital coast website. This website contains data, tools, and training to equip communities with decision-making data. One tool—  Coastal County Snapshots —allows users to input specific counties along the coast and see county-level data on flood exposure and sea level rise exposure. These snapshots analyze hundreds of datasets to give a brief summation of at-risk people and facilities as well as projected flooding and sea level rise based on different models. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces  National Risk Index  maps to get a better idea of which communities and census tracks are more at risk to natural disasters. The FEMA Risk Index takes into account factors such as social vulnerability, expected losses, and community resilience. Industries that are aware of and use these resources to inform operational decision-making are better equipped to equitably serve and protect communities. 

The  Annualized Hurricane Frequency  map from the National Risk Index below depicts counties and census tracts—classified in shades of red—that are most at risk of hurricane impacts. Darker shades of red indicate a higher risk index value for that county. Certain communities, like those on coasts and on islands, experience significantly more storm surge and/or flooding, and are ranked higher in risk. Importantly, the number of tropical cyclones an area experiences could increase vulnerability. The blue lines on the map represent previous paths of major hurricanes. Many coincide with darker red-shaded areas, such as the southeast coast of Florida. 

Another way to assess risk ahead of hurricane season is through NWS Climate Prediction Center (CPC) public seasonal outlooks. These outlooks do not predict landfall, but rather showcase likely activity during the hurricane season. The CPC creates these outlooks by analyzing predictions of climate factors that influence tropical cyclone formation and climate forecast models. Outlooks like these can provide projection data in a quick, easy-to-read format to help industries position and prepare for potential hurricanes ahead of hurricane season. Explore the 2024 hurricane season outlook and previous outlooks using the link below. 

NOAA archives and maintains data from past hurricanes. These important historical data—including past formation, paths, and forecasts—provide valuable information that helps industries and communities prepare for future hurricanes. By comparing historical storms to recent ones, scientists, forecasters, emergency managers, and business resilience leaders can examine how hurricane patterns are changing and inform their long-term planning to enhance resilience. Explore some of NOAA’s historical data products below. 

 NOAA’s Historical Hurricane Tracks viewer  pulls data from the NHC’s  Best Track Data (HURDAT2)  and NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)  International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS)  datasets to create an interactive web map that displays information on past hurricanes. A map of North America displays the path of each hurricane, and users can use filters to view specific groups of hurricane paths. Hurricanes typically form over the Atlantic Ocean at least 10 degrees north or south of the equator, from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. These storms, whether or not they have become cyclones yet, usually continue north and west. While many do not make landfall, some move up the east coast of the U.S. 

Additionally, the NHC maintains an archive of data from past tropical storms, cyclones, and depressions. Users can browse or search for reports, maps, summaries, seasonal outlooks, and more. This historical NHC data is useful for anyone looking for information about previous hurricanes or seeking to explore different NOAA products and formats dating back to the 1800s. 

Linked below, the NHC provides reports on past tropical cyclones that summarize their history, meteorological statistics, and casualty and damage statistics, and track in PDF, KMZ, and SHP file formats. With these reports, industry can learn from the past to assess what may happen in the future. For example, an insurance agency may want to check the path of a past tropical cyclone and see associated rainfall amounts and storm surge to better inform future risk models.

As the storm forms and potentially develops into a hurricane, industries can prepare in various ways. Insurance agencies can use the  seasonal outlooks  to make preliminary evaluations on claim adjustments for the hurricane season. Architects and engineers can use the  seasonal outlooks  and the  Sea Level Rise Viewer  to analyze structure development for increased risks that have changed in recent times. Retailers can use the  seasonal outlooks ,  Global Tropical Hazards Outlook , and other NHC information to prepare for the expected hurricane season by developing preparation plans, business continuity plans, evacuation and staffing plans, and determining how changes in the supply chain will affect their business operations. 

The Atlantic  hurricane season  officially runs from June 1 through November 30, but up to three percent of total recorded storms have formed outside these months. From June to November, the ocean and weather conditions are most favorable to promote storm development. In the Atlantic, hurricanes most commonly begin to form between 10° and 30°N—from around Sierra Leone to around Florida or Louisiana. After formation, hurricanes can move northward up to 60°N (above Newfoundland, Canada), before they become extratropical storms. Extratropical storms are low-pressure systems found outside the tropics where hurricanes form, but still bring damaging winds, devastating storm surge, and torrential rain. Explore the map below to see where historic tropical storms, including hurricanes, have typically formed, and their path further over the Atlantic Ocean. Note the high density of storms concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico and eastern U.S. in yellow.

Hurricanes require three key components to form: High sea surface temperatures, high atmospheric moisture, and favorable wind conditions. Hurricanes are highly complex storms, meaning that other atmospheric conditions outside of these three components contribute to formation. However, without these three factors, a hurricane will not form. As the Earth rotates, there is a force known as the  Coriolis effect  that causes large objects in the northern hemisphere to turn counterclockwise—hurricanes require the Coriolis effect to form.

Hurricanes get their energy from the ocean’s surface heat, which typically has to be above ~27°C (80°F) to allow for hurricane formation. You can see how warm the water is in a given area with the NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide, which provides recent ocean and Great Lakes temperatures collected from buoys, tide gauges, and other monitoring stations in the U.S. and its territories. 

Warm, humid air fuels the formation and intensity of hurricanes. Air from warm ocean water rises into the atmosphere, creating an area of low pressure near the surface. Clouds develop as more warm air condenses, continuing to gather energy from the warm ocean water and strengthen as the system spins and grows.

Wind patterns from the surface to the upper atmosphere dictate if the storm system will form and where the storm will go. If the wind speed and direction are consistent across these levels, the storm is pushed across the Atlantic basin and the storm will intensify. These wind patterns, known as  steering flow winds , are best seen through satellite data. The map below shows the different wind patterns from Hurricane Helene that NOAA’s GOES-East satellite collected. The red, yellow, and blue marks (known as  wind barbs ), signify wind speed and direction at different levels in the atmosphere. The “flags” at the end of the barb denote the speed, while the longer edge of the barb signifies the direction. The white cloud tops show Hurricane Helene rotating counterclockwise over the Gulf of Mexico. The high-level winds (shown in red) show the direction of the air above and ahead of the storm. The mid-level (blue) and low-level (yellow) winds blowing in different directions around the storm show the effects of the wind inside the storm interacting with the lower level winds around the storm. 

Global atmospheric patterns that influence these critical components for hurricane formation can create a domino effect and alter the background environmental conditions that promote or stifle storm formation. The three major phenomena to be considered are the existing wind shear conditions, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the presence of the Saharan Dust Layer. These phenomena affect hurricane development in different ways, explained below. 

 Wind shear  describes how the wind changes speed or direction with altitude. Think of the wind as sheets of paper stacked on top of each other, and a tropical cyclone system as a column perpendicular to it. If one “layer” moves faster than the one above it, or changes direction, the hurricane is going to tilt where that layer is moving faster or slower. This can cause the hurricane to become weaker. 

Many variables can affect wind shear, including the major global pattern known as ENSO. This is more commonly referred to as El Niño and La Niña. This oscillation occurs every 3–7 years, during which surface water temperatures in the east and central Pacific will warm or cool by 1–3°C (1.8–5.4°F). During El Niño years, hurricane formation in the Atlantic is suppressed due to increased  wind shear  and atmospheric instability. When wind shear increases, hurricanes have difficulty staying upright and maintaining intensity, so they are less likely to make landfall as strong hurricanes. Conversely, during La Niña years, more hurricanes are likely to occur in the same region due to the absence of strong wind shear. The maps below show the difference in ocean temperatures during El Niño and La Niña years.

Another global phenomenon that affects Atlantic hurricane formation is the  Saharan Air Layer , a mass of dry, dusty air that blows from the Sahara over the Atlantic ocean. This phenomenon can occur every three to five days from mid-June to late August, resulting from  atmospheric tropical waves  that loft this dust into the atmosphere. This two- to two-and-a-half-mile-thick layer of dust suppresses hurricane formation and can be seen in the air in areas like Florida, Texas, and Central America. Scientists at NOAA use satellites to track this dust layer and better forecast hurricane systems. 

NWS includes analysis on ENSO conditions in their  seasonal outlooks , which provide an assessment of the upcoming hurricane season. You can use these assessments to determine the upcoming season’s potential severity. Wind shear and Saharan Dust are likely to change more rapidly, so they are evaluated throughout the season for their impact on potential storms. 

The factors that influence hurricane formation, shown in the table below, are not the only factors that increase and decrease the chances of hurricane formation. Other factors, like humidity, play a role in hurricane formation. For more information on the science behind how hurricanes form, visit this  site . 

Tropical cyclones follow a similar sequence whether they form in the Atlantic or Pacific. With favorable conditions, hurricanes can develop from a tropical disturbance to a Category 1 hurricane in a matter of hours. During hurricane season, NOAA’s NHC issues  Tropical Weather Outlooks  every six hours to identify weather disturbances and potential areas for tropical cyclone development over the next five days. The NWS  Model Analyses and Guidance webpage  can be used to forecast potential weather hazards like hurricanes. Users can pick from a suite of modes to see what may happen within the next few days. Alternatively, the NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) 48-hour Tropical Cyclone Formation Probability Product (below) shows the probability of a hurricane forming within 48 hours. Tools like these can be used to inform key decisions ahead of a hurricane. 

Learn more about these stages of formation and how NOAA works to keep the public informed of current and potential hurricanes below. 

Hurricanes will change category throughout their lifecycle as environmental factors strengthen or weaken them. This change can occur slowly or rapidly, leading to uncertainty in forecasts. Because hurricanes gain their strength from warm water, they typically weaken once they hit land. When hurricanes make landfall, they produce extreme amounts of precipitation and high winds as they continue to move inland.

All hurricanes, regardless of strength, have the potential to produce devastating wind, storm surge along the coast, and flooding to communities. 

Extreme precipitation—particularly in areas that don’t experience high amounts of rain in a short amount of time or whose topography can cause quick runoff—can cause extreme flooding in inland areas. Hurricane Helene (2024) was disastrous for eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina because of its release of accumulated rainfall. Low-lying areas in the Appalachian Mountains, like Asheville, North Carolina, experienced unprecedented and catastrophic flooding. Similarly, when Hurricane Dennis (2005) made landfall in western Florida, the slow-moving rainbands led to flash flooding in western Georgia. Another impactful example of this was the storm surge and accumulated rainfall that wreaked havoc on New Jersey and New York during Hurricane Sandy (2012). 

The NHC classifies hurricanes according to the  Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale :

During the days leading up to a hurricane, necessities like food, water, gas, and plywood will be in high demand. Shipping and logistics companies may find difficulty finding fuel or encounter massive traffic on evacuation routes, which can limit available supplies. 

Once NHC has identified a hurricane that may hit land, it is important to monitor the path. The  NHC website  contains a multitude of graphical and text products that explain what is projected to happen.  Active public advisories  can be used to gain an understanding on current and future conditions for the next 72 hours. These are different from  tropical cyclone discussions , which describe the rationale for the forecaster's analysis and forecast of the storm. These discussions can be used to get a better sense of the meteorology behind the overall analysis, including discussion on environmental factors influencing the storm. Along with these text products, NHC provides graphic products on the storm and its path. The most common ones are highlighted in the slideshow below. 

In addition to common NHC products, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and NHC provide an interactive map that features tropical watches and warnings, observed cyclone position, forecast paths, and forecast winds. Businesses and individuals may prefer this format instead of the NHC’s static graphics. With this map, industries can monitor the storm conditions and create plans for after the storm, depending on risk factors like expected storm surge, tornadoes, or other hazards. 

By using the NHC products highlighted above with the other products available on the  NHC website , businesses and individuals can monitor the storm path to stay safe and be prepared. 

Hurricanes are capable of devastating destruction and can often cause significant loss of life. Since 2020, an average of four hurricanes have made landfall each year in the U.S., each surpassing  $1 billion in damages . The adjusted average cost is more than $50 billion per year, disrupting key industries and affecting lives. 

Some notable hurricanes in recent years that caused billions in losses include Harvey in August 2017 ($160 billion dollars*), Ian in September 2022 ($118.5 billion dollars*), Maria in September 2017 ($115.2 billion dollars*), and Ida in August 2021 ($84.6 billion dollars*). These losses do not include the loss of life often associated with these disasters, due directly to present hazards (e.g., flooding, extreme winds) or secondary effects (e.g., loss of power leading to hospitals being closed). *Amount has been adjusted to 2024 CPI values.

Hurricanes can devastate lives when people must seek shelter, recover, and prepare again. Some communities are more at risk for devastating impacts from these storms, particularly communities where there has historically been less investment. While evacuations and rescue efforts keep many people safe, these hurricanes can be deadly. On average, the four most costly hurricanes in the U.S. each year cause more than one hundred fatalities. 

When a hurricane makes landfall, the resulting damage is indiscriminate; however, the communities hit hardest are those that are especially vulnerable due to social or economic factors. For example, properties in coastal flood plains may not have the option for insurance, may not be able to afford it, or may not even know they need it. When vulnerable communities are on coasts where tropical cyclones are common, homes and livelihoods are at risk of repeat damage. Some will meet the insurance criteria for Severe Repeat Loss Property status, as  FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program  defines, but others may not be covered. 

After a disaster, insurance claims skyrocket for houses, buildings, and cars. Fallen trees, old roofs, and extreme winds may cause damage in affected areas. Retailers may have disruption in normal business as they wait for power to return, and for damage repair after flooding or other disruptions. Traffic coming back into affected areas can cause major shipping delays. Insurers help individuals and businesses file claims; retailers help supply the public with the goods they need to return and recover.

During Hurricane Helene in 2024, Florida, Georgia, and the states in Southern Appalachia were hit hard with heavy wind gusts, storm surge near the coast, and flooding, leading to billions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses and killing hundreds. Intense rain led to catastrophic flooding in portions of southern Appalachia, including western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee—places that hurricanes typically don’t threaten. 

NOAA’s  National Geodetic Survey  provides  damage assessment imagery  after major natural disasters, including Hurricane Helene. This imagery provides useful information for emergency response personnel, and showcases the far-reaching damage of hurricanes. Use the slider below to compare photos of Chimney Rock, North Carolina before and after the storm. 

Hurricanes can cause widespread devastation, as seen above. Impacts can be lasting, as disruptions to the supply chain can cause retail shortages, gas shortages, and shipping disruptions. Damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles lead to an increase in insurance claims. In the case of Helene, the hurricane destroyed small businesses, flooded agricultural fields, and blocked major interstates, halting the transportation of vital goods to communities that required them. 

Recent changes in climate patterns have resulted in more frequent and more intense hurricanes. Businesses, governments, and the American public must consider how best to adapt and build resilience in the face of these new patterns. Researchers from NOAA’s  Geophysical Fluid Dynamic Laboratory  have identified four main ways in which tropical cyclone activity may change by the year 2100: 

1. Rising sea levels, expected to increase due to warming temperatures, will likely lead to higher floods when tropical cyclones occur. 
2. Rainfall rates are projected to increase within tropical cyclones because warmer temperatures hold more moisture in the air. 
3. Tropical cyclone intensity is projected to increase with higher sea surface temperatures, which rely on warm ocean water to form.
4. The global proportion of tropical cyclones that reach Category 4 or 5 is projected to increase.

NOAA provides long-term projections on specific environmental factors that may lead to future changes in these storms’ formation. Future data helps key U.S. industries better prepare infrastructure, supply chains, and assets. Climate.gov tracks key climate indicators such as  ocean heat  and  sea level rise , and provides analyses on the change and impacts of these indicators. Industry is better equipped for disruptions when it has insight into how tropical cyclone activity may change in the future; NOAA’s data from these tools show the change in certain climate variables, like the temperature of the ocean’s surface, that influence tropical cyclone formation. 

Another important tool,  The Sea Level Rise Viewer , is an interactive map from the National Ocean Service that allows users to visualize rising sea levels and coastal flooding impacts. As sea levels rise, this tool will become increasingly important in coastal planning, particularly for the architecture and engineering industry. This provides photo simulations of how future flooding might impact local landmarks, as well as data related to water depth, connectivity, flood frequency, socio-economic vulnerability, wetland loss and migration, and mapping confidence. In the aftermath of a storm, and as industry plans for changes in hurricane behavior, tools like these can help inform important planning decisions.

Another tool hosted on NOAA’s  Digital Coast  is the  Sea Level Calculator , developed by NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services and NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management. This tool uses data, maps, and visualizations to provide information on past, present, and future flood frequency and sea level rise trends. Search a location below and explore the data NOAA has to offer.