Here’s how much extreme weather costs taxpayers

Hurricanes and wildfires are getting stronger

Hurricane Florence could cause as much as $170 billion in damage overall as it pummels the Carolinas, making it the most expensive storm to hit the U.S., as FEMA prepares to provide disaster relief.

From hurricanes and flooding to earthquakes and wildfires, several states have experienced the devastating impact of natural disasters in recent years — and Americans are now paying for it. In fact, extreme weather disasters cost taxpayers about $675 billion between 2011 and 2017, according to the Center for American Progress. Natural disasters — including Hurricane Harvey and the wildfires in California — have left thousands of residents in need of disaster aid as well as cities in need of significant repairs.

Click through to see why extreme weather is one of the major reasons Americans tap into their emergency funds.