Hurricane Ian will be remembered as Southwest Florida’s “Andrew”. The widespread and substantial damage across the hardest-hit areas were marked by regionally historic storm surge, high winds, and inland flooding which will lead to high loss costs for the insurance industry and beyond.
If not for numerous examples of building code success stories with newer constructed properties, the financial toll may have been even higher.
In the days following Ian’s landfall in Florida, a team of Gallagher scientists and engineers travelled to the state during the first week of October 2022 to assess damage. The findings from their assessment are contained in this report.
Key takeaways from the damage survey:
- Ian: Tied for fifth (5) strongest U.S. mainland hurricane landfall on record with 150 mph (240 kph) winds
- Wind damage in Southwest Florida was extensive though newer construction showed limited impacts
- Newer metal and tile roofs, despite a higher purchase cost than asphalt shingles, were prevalent in SW FL
- Expansive storm surge damage (>15 feet) caused considerable impacts on the coast; tracked 0.4 miles inland
- Heavy losses to coastal commercial exposure, automobiles, boats, and other marine interests
- Inland flooding left considerable damage from DeSoto to Lake Counties in Florida
- Ian to be one of the costliest U.S. catastrophe events on record; industry losses likely less than peak model range
