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.
