Tropical Storm Arthur Causes an Estimated $4-6 Billion in Total Damage and Economic Loss, AccuWeather Experts Say

• Tropical Storm Arthur brought catastrophic and life-threatening rainfall, flooding, tornadoes, gusty winds and coastal impacts from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, hitting Louisiana and Mississippi the hardest
• The preliminary estimate from AccuWeather accounts for flood damage, business interruptions, travel disruptions, power outages, infrastructure impacts and recovery costs and could increase based on the full impact of the storm

Tropical Storm Arthur, which dumped more than of 20-inches of rain in some spots across the Gulf this week, caused an estimated $4-6 billion in total damage and economic loss, according to a preliminary estimate from experts at AccuWeather. Flooding, property and infrastructure damage, hundreds of flight delays, financial losses from extended power outages, and business interruptions contributed to the economic impacts from the storm.

“Flooding, travel disruptions, power outages and business interruptions can quickly add up to billions of dollars in impacts for families, businesses and communities,”said AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin.“ Arthur is another reminder that tropical systems do not need to reach hurricane strength to cause significant, expensive and even deadly damage and economic losses.”

Arthur Brought Devastating Impacts to Millions on the Gulf Coast:

• 31.56 inches of rain in Cottonport, LA
• 24.47 inches of rain in Plaucheville, LA
• 20.66 inches of rain in Simmesport, LA
• 15.75 inches in Carriere, MS
• 2 confirmed tornadoes in Louisiana, more expected

*Impacts as of 7 a.m. Friday morning

Flooding from heavy rainfall was the costliest impact associated with this system, which formed in the far western Gulf along the Texas coastline. Water damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure is expensive to repair, and recovery efforts often continue for weeks or months after floodwaters recede. Dozens of roads were closed across the Gulf Coast, and hundreds of homes were flooded. Numerous high-water rescues and at least two fatalities were reported.

This is a preliminary estimate, as the storm’s effects are continuing to be felt, and some areas have not yet reported complete information about damage, injuries and other impacts.

Arthur Impacts Better Communicated by RealImpact™ Scale

AccuWeather was the first known source to release an Eye Path™ for a Tropical Rainstorm Monday evening. Arthur was designated a Tropical Storm Tuesday, but for less than 24-hours. However, AccuWeather rated the storm and its impacts a 2 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes due to life-threating flooding.

“Arthur is a clear example of why the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes is so important. Instead of classifying a storm’s threat by just its wind speed, the scale accounts for the other many threats that are caused by tropical systems. Storm surge, and in the case of Arthur flooding, are typically responsible for more widespread impacts than wind damage alone and more people are killed by water than wind in tropical systems. Some of the most destructive flood events in our nation’s history were caused by tropical storms or unnamed tropical rainstorms.”DePodwin added.

About AccuWeather Total Damage and Economic Loss Preliminary Estimates

AccuWeather incorporates independent methods to evaluate all direct and indirect impacts of the storm, includes both insured and uninsured losses and is based on a variety of sources, statistics and unique techniques AccuWeather uses to estimate the damage. It includes damage to property, job and wage losses, crops, infrastructure, interruption of the supply chain, auxiliary business losses and flight delays. The estimate also accounts for the costs of evacuations, relocations, emergency management and the extraordinary government expenses for cleanup operations and the long-term effects on business logistics, transportation and tourism as well as the long-term and short-term health effects and the medical and other expenses of unreported deaths and injuries.

AccuWeather is the trusted source for total damage and economic loss estimates for weather disasters in the United States. Our recognized experts incorporate independent methods to evaluate all direct and indirect impacts of extreme weather events. In 2017, AccuWeather first issued a widely quoted preliminary estimate for total damage and economic loss during catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey along the Gulf coast, which helped people in the impacted area, and across the country to better understand the magnitude of the disaster.

About the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes

In contrast to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which classifies storms by wind speed only, the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale is based on a broad range of important factors. In order to better communicate a more comprehensive representation of the potential impact of a storm to lives and livelihoods, the scale covers not only wind speed but also flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss. Some of these hazards, such as inland flooding and