Tornadoes are the second-deadliest weather hazard in the U.S. and they tear down billions of dollars worth of property every year. On average, tornadoes are responsible for 1,265 injuries and 110 fatalities annually.
Since tornado season peaks in early summer for some states, WeatherDB, a weather data site that’s part of Graphiq, found out which 10 U.S. counties experienced the most monetary damage caused by tornadoes over the last 20 years (January 1996 to January 2016). Data was collected from NOAA‘s Severe Weather Data Inventory (SWDI) and the total damage for each tornado was adjusted for inflation. The SWDI also includes data on the number of deaths and injuries that occurred in each tornado event. Counties that experienced extreme tornado damage from fewer than 10 tornadoes over the past 20 years were excluded from the list.
Not surprisingly, counties located in “Tornado Alley” appear on this list. However, southern states like Alabama and Mississippi also experience a high volume of severe tornadoes. One tornado was even responsible for over $2 billion worth of damage alone. The following 10 counties are hotbeds for tornado damage.
#10. Dallas County, Texas
Total Damage: $452 million
Number of Tornadoes: 31
Total Deaths: 10
Total Injuries: 490
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $414 million
Worst Tornado Date: 4/3/2012
#9. Lawrence County, Mississippi
Total Damage: $528 million
Number of Tornadoes: 12
Total Deaths: 0
Total Injuries: 7
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $528 million
Worst Tornado Date: 4/4/2011
#8. Sedgwick County, Kansas
Total Damage: $720 million
Number of Tornadoes: 24
Total Deaths: 6
Total Injuries: 191
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $517 million
Worst Tornado Date: 4/14/2012
#7. Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Total Damage: $887 million
Number of Tornadoes: 42
Total Deaths: 14
Total Injuries: 412
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $641 million
Worst Tornado Date: 5/3/1999
#6. Tazewell County, Illinois
Total Damage: $992 million
Number of Tornadoes: 25
Total Deaths: 3
Total Injuries: 166
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $927 million
Worst Tornado Date: 11/17/2013
#5. Limestone County, Alabama
Total Damage: $1.06 billion
Number of Tornadoes: 45
Total Deaths: 6
Total Injuries: 120
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $1.06 billion
Worst Tornado Date: 4/27/2011
#4. Jefferson County, Alabama
Total Damage: $1.07 billion
Number of Tornadoes: 41
Total Deaths: 56
Total Injuries: 1063
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $739 million
Worst Tornado Date: 4/27/2011
#3. Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Total Damage: $1.64 billion
Number of Tornadoes: 48
Total Deaths: 64
Total Injuries: 977
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $1.58 billion
Worst Tornado Date: 4/27/2011
#2. Jasper County, Missouri
Total Damage: $3 billion
Number of Tornadoes: 13
Total Deaths: 164
Total Injuries: 1187
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $2.95 billion
Worst Tornado Date: 5/22/2011
#1. Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Total Damage: $3 billion
Number of Tornadoes: 30
Total Deaths: 36
Total Injuries: 631
Worst Single Tornado Damage: $2.04 billion
Worst Tornado Date: 5/20/2013
