All articles tagged with #billion dollar disasters
In the first half of 2025, the U.S. experienced 15 billion-dollar weather disasters, including record-setting wildfires in Los Angeles, which are among the costliest in history, and severe weather events causing over $12 billion in damages. Globally, there were 19 such disasters with damages reaching $134 billion, and Europe faced a deadly heat wave with over 2,300 deaths, largely attributed to climate change.
The contiguous United States experienced a record-breaking 28 billion-dollar weather disasters in 2023, the highest number since 1980, with a total cost of $92.9 billion. Severe storm events accounted for the majority of the disasters, with 19 events costing $54 billion. Climate change is cited as a significant factor in the increasing frequency and cost of these disasters. Additionally, 2023 saw the warmest December on record and ranked as the fifth warmest year on record for the U.S., with a notable lack of bitter cold and widespread warmth contributing to record-low snow cover.
The United States has experienced a record-breaking number of billion-dollar weather disasters in 2023, with 23 such events causing over $57.6 billion in damages and claiming the lives of at least 253 people, according to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The deadliest wildfire in over a century struck West Maui, Hawaii, killing 115 people and causing up to $6 billion in damages, while Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida's Big Bend coast as the strongest hurricane in 125 years. The increasing frequency of these disasters has raised concerns about the adequacy of FEMA's funding, with the agency's disaster fund expected to run out by mid-September unless Congress approves an additional $16 billion. President Biden has attributed the rise in severe weather events to climate change and urged swift action on FEMA funding.
The United States has already experienced a record-breaking number of 23 weather and climate disasters in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 22 set in 2020. These disasters, including storms, wildfires, and flooding, have caused over $57.6 billion in damages and resulted in the deaths of more than 250 people. The increasing frequency and severity of these events are seen as clear indicators of the impact of climate change. Additionally, NOAA reported that seven states, including Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, experienced some of the hottest summers on record.
The United States has already surpassed the annual record for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, with 23 such events occurring so far this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These disasters have caused 253 fatalities and $57.6 billion in damages, with four months still remaining in the year. The impact of extreme weather is being exacerbated by decisions to build and rebuild in high-risk areas, as well as the climate crisis. The increasing frequency of disasters is straining resources and putting pressure on FEMA's disaster relief fund, which may run out of money this month. Lawmakers are being urged to invest in resilience measures to better protect people and infrastructure from the impacts of extreme weather.