UNDER THE WEATHER. Throughout the 1980s, Georgia was hit by nine natural disasters that caused at least $1 billion of damage. In 2024 alone, there were 13.

Billion-dollar disasters have been steadily increasing since 1980, with 14 in the 1990s, 25 in the 2000s and 37 in the 2010s. In fact, of all the damage caused by natural disasters since 1980, more than 30% of it has happened in the last three years alone, according to Jason Rudis, vice president of state government relations for the Reinsurance Association of America.

The most common category is severe weather like major thunderstorms. But they’re not the most expensive. Hurricanes and tropical storms are responsible for up to $50 billion in damages since 1980 compared to $20 billion from other severe storms.

“That’s your culprit of what’s driving up the damage and costs. It’s tropical cyclones,” Rudis told state lawmakers last week.

State lawmakers are studying the impacts of these storms on insurance rates to form the basis of what will be an election-year push to provide relief to farmers and homeowners.

Rudis suggested lawmakers help more people harden their homes against severe weather by helping them pay for things like fortified roofs.