Insider Blog: Expensive disasters on the rise

You may have heard more talk of expensive natural disasters in recent headlines as large-scale disasters are increasing year by year. In Missouri, 2023 has already been a notable severe weather year, tying for our highest number of billion-dollar disasters in a year. With several months left, this could be one of the most expensive severe weather years in history.

Through the month of July, Missouri has recorded 9 disasters this year, which matches the number we experienced back in 2011. That was the year of several expansive severe weather outbreaks, which has been the trend in 2023 as well. Severe storms are by far the most expensive disaster for the area, costing the state several billions of dollars during active years. 2023 is already the fifth most expensive severe weather year in Missouri's history.

The frequency of large-scale disasters slows in our state into the second half of the year, but we are already right on the cusp of breaking several records as we approach the winter.