Steve Balmer was the #2 guy at Microsoft. His new non-profit, USA Facts, seeks to provide a non-partisan discussion of topics using scientific metrics not tabloid fodder.
In this case, however, he's FOS. The reason the cost of natural disasters is rising, has more to do with the large number of homes we're building on coasts this century and the rising cost of constructing those. Ergo, we're building more expensive sheet to get hit by hurricanes. Are there more hurricanes over category III...NOPE.
Example: In 1940 Florida had less than 600,000 homes, today 10 million. Surprised that the economic impact of a hurricane has gone up?
B Lomberg explains (see link)
Are major natural disasters increasing?
USA FACTs
Sept 24 2024
By Steave Balmer
Of the 10 years with the most natural disasters, nine of them have been in the last decade. The number of weather-related natural disasters causing damages of more than $1 billion has risen over the past 40 years, from an average of 3.3 per year in the 1980s to over 17 per year from 2014 to 2023.
Since 1980, the nation has had 395 natural weather disasters with costs exceeding $1 billion. These include 201 severe storms, 63 tropical cyclones (or hurricanes), 44 floods, 31 droughts, 24 winter storms, 23 wildfires, and nine freezes.
These disasters have resulted in nearly 16,500 deaths and cost $2.77 trillion. Nearly 40% of the billion-dollar climate events since 1980 have happened between 2017 and today.
Major tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, have caused the most damage in terms of both deaths and financial costs. The eight costliest natural disasters since 1980 have all been tropical cyclones, accounting for $888 billion in damages. The costliest: Hurricane Katrina in 2005 at $200 billion.
Map showing number of billion-dollar natural disasters per state
The nation’s geographic regions each have unique combinations of weather and climate hazards. Texas has had the most billion-dollar disasters at 186, or approximately 4.1 disasters per year. It’s followed by Georgia (129), Illinois (126), Missouri (118), and North Carolina (117).
Local and tribal governments are the first line of defense in the immediate aftermath of weather emergencies. When necessary, federal disaster funding supports local disaster response. Each state also has disaster funding mechanisms. If a disaster’s cost exceeds the state’s capacity to respond, the state government may apply for federal assistance.
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