AIR Currents
Storm surge accounts for a remarkably constant proportion of total hurricane losses over time
April 23, 2015
When historical hurricanes are simulated using current-day exposures, the ratio of storm surge losses to total losses is surprisingly consistent over time-even across events of varying sizes and intensities. From an average annual loss perspective, property damage from hurricane storm surge-before any insurance terms are applied-accounts for approximately one-third of the total (combined wind and surge) losses. Although this proportion cannot be used to predict storm surge losses for any given hurricane, it provides us with interesting insight into the interaction of hurricane winds and surge and the losses they produce. Learn more about hurricane loss from storm surge versus wind.