CLIMATE DISASTERS HAVE KILLED OVER 500 PEOPLE, COST MORE THAN $100B IN US THIS YEAR

Thu 14 October 2021:

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, weather and climate disasters in the United States have claimed more than 500 lives and cost more than $100 billion so far this year.

A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental, Safety, and Sustainability Office said that since January, as many as 18 weather and climate disasters took place in the country, each incurring losses that exceeded $1 billion.

The disasters included nine severe storms, four tropical cyclones, two flooding events, one combined drought and heat wave, one wildfire, and one combined winter storm and cold wave, the report noted.

From these disasters, 538 people have died so far in 2021.

This is “more than twice the number of fatalities than from all the events that occurred in 2020,” the report says.

“Total losses due to property and infrastructure damage is up to $104.8 billion so far — eclipsing $100.2 billion incurred last year (adjusted for 2021 inflation),” the report pointed out.

This is the seventh consecutive year the US experienced 10 or more billion-dollar disasters.

The average number of billion dollar disasters from 1980-2020 is seven. However, during the last five years, that average number has risen to 16.

Warmest September in 127 years

“The average September temperature across the contiguous U.S. was 67.8 degrees F – 3.0 degrees above the 20th-century average – making it the fifth-warmest September in the 127-year climate record,” says the report. Colorado and Rhode Island had its third warmest September on record.

They also added that the first nine months of 2021 had an average of 57 F (13.88 C), making it 1.9 F above average.

By the end of September, around 47.8 percent of the contiguous US was in drought.

“Drought conditions expanded or intensified across portions of the Midwest and central Plains and rapidly developed across the southern Plains during the second half of September,” says the report.

The drought in the West has lead to an active wildfire season across the region.

“By the end of September, almost six million acres were consumed across the U.S. This is approximately 500,000 acres less than the year-to-date 10-year (2011-2020) average,” says the report.

The US has been tormented with numerous diseases since the beginning of 2021, including flooding from Hurricane Ida, landfall of Hurricane Nicholas, and ongoing drought and wildfires tormenting communities in the West.

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