As we continue to assess the full extent of the damage caused by Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo, The Bermudian takes a look at the damage inflicted by previous storms that have directly hit the island. While there are other hurricanes that have left a trail of destruction in their wake, in attempting to get an accurate bearing The Bermudian focussed only on those storms that have made landfall.



One thing is clear: it doesn’t take a major hurricane to produce major damage. Even storms smaller than Hurricanes Fabian or Emily are able to take a huge financial toll.
 

How do Gonzalo and Fay measure up to previous storms that have directly hit Bermuda?

Wind Speed


1.    Fabian – 120 mph


2.    Gonzalo – 110 mph

3.    Dean – 95 mph


4.    Arlene – 95 mph


5.    Emily – 90 mph


6.    Fay – 75 mph


7.    Karen – 60 mph


Damage (USD adjusted for inflation)


1.    Fabian — $388 million


2.    Dean — $16.9 million


3.    Emily — $7.3 million


4.    Fay — greater than $3.8 million


5.    Arlene — $2.1 million


6.    Karen — $1.8 million

 

 Infographics of named storms depicting wind speed and damages inflicted in dollars.


1963 August 9th — Hurricane Arlene hits with 95 mph winds from the S.W. $2.1 million.

 


1987 September 25th — Hurricane Emily hits with 90 mph. $7.3 million

 


1989 August 6th — Tropical Storm Dean hits from the South with 95 mph winds. $16.9 million

 


2001 October 12th — Subtropical Storm Karen hits before becoming tropical with sustained winds on Bermuda of 60mph. $1.8 million.

 


2003 September 5th — Hurricane Fabian hits with 120 mph winds while moving NNE at 18mph. $388 million.

 


2014 October 10 — Tropical Storm Fay hits Bermuda with 75 mph winds. Early estimates put damage above $3.8 million according to one insurance company alone.

 


2014 October 17th — Hurricane Gonzalo hits from the SSW with 110 mph winds.