Billion-dollar disasters in 2021 — including the costliest winter storm on record — caused extensive damage in Illinois and across the country

The 20 disasters — including a winter freeze, wildfire, drought, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and severe weather — caused about $145 billion in damages overall. The costliest of the year was Hurricane Ida, at $75 billion, which made landfall in Louisiana in August with 150 mph winds.