Historical Records Database
The Costliest Tornado Disasters
The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) tracks weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion. Between 1980 and 2024, there were 403 confirmed billion-dollar disasters in the U.S., with "Severe Storms" (which heavily include tornado events) making up 203 of them—the highest frequency of any category.
When a violent tornado intersects with a highly populated urban center, the financial devastation is catastrophic. Events like the 2011 Joplin tornado and the 2013 Moore tornado completely redefined insurance models and building codes. Below are the most expensive tornado events logged in our archive.
| Rank | Storm Event | Rating | Damage Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | St. Louis-East St. Louis1896 | F4 | $5.36 billion |
| #2 | Joplin2011 | EF5 | $3.71 billion |
| #3 | Tuscaloosa-Birmingham2011 | EF4 | $2.4 billion |
| #4 | Moore2013 | EF5 | $2 billion |
| #5 | Tri-State1925 | F5 | $1.4 billion |
| #6 | Hackleburg-Phil Campbell2011 | EF5 | $1.29 billion |
| #7 | Bridge Creek-Moore1999 | F5 | $1 billion |
| #8 | Washington Illinois2013 | EF4 | $935 million |
| #9 | Yazoo City2010 | EF4 | $409.5 million |
| #10 | Shoal Creek Valley-Ohatchee2011 | EF4 | $367 million |