The westerly shift of Irma, which weakened to a Category 2 storm on Sunday, might have spared Florida bigger property losses. In comparison, the eastern counties of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade have property worth about $1.5 trillion, according to AIR. Irma’s westward shift means that most of the damage from the hurricane could come from a storm surge rather than high winds. Within flood zones, most homeowners are required to buy flood insurance, which is usually provided by the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program. Businesses also buy national flood insurance.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 11, 2017 00:18 UTC