Assessing the Fiscal Impact of Hurricanes on Counties in Florida

This paper assesses the fiscal impact of hurricanes on Florida counties from 1993–2019. Using a hurricane destruction index based on local wind speeds, we find substantial and persistent increases in both expenditures and revenues. Expenditures rise due to higher spending on public safety and environmental recovery. Revenues surge from intergovernmental grants, but we also find significant increases in own-source revenues, such as taxes and permits, fueled by reconstruction-related economic activity. Our results underscore the complex fiscal dynamics of disaster recovery and the need for coordinated intergovernmental policies to enhance resilience.