Hurricane Helene caused between $8B and $14B in private insured losses: Moody's

Published On Oct 9, 2024, 6:00 AM

Hurricane Helene has inflicted significant damage, leading to estimated private insured losses of between $8 billion and $14 billion, according to Moody's. The storm caused extensive flooding and destruction across the Southeast, resulting in at least 232 fatalities. While the total estimated insured losses from wind and storm surge are between $6.7 billion to $12.3 billion, inland flooding losses add an additional $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion. The broader economic impacts could drive total costs from the disaster to between $20 billion and $34 billion. Moody's also highlighted the impending threat of Hurricane Milton, which may complicate the damage assessments from Helene as it approaches Florida, potentially causing further losses.

Stock Forecasts

Given the substantial insured losses from Hurricane Helene and the potential for additional damage from Hurricane Milton, insurance companies may face significant financial impacts. This could lead to price adjustments in insurance premiums and increased demand for flood insurance. However, companies heavily involved in property and casualty insurance may experience stock price volatility in the short term due to these large claims. Investors might assess opportunities in reinsurance or catastrophe bonds, which could serve as hedge against such disasters.

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Hurricane Helene caused between $8 billion and $14 billion in losses within the private insurance market after wreaking havoc on the Southeast, according to an estimate by Moody's RMS.

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