Record-Breaking Weather Disasters Strain Resources as Climate Change Fuels Extreme Events

The US has experienced 23 weather and climate disasters costing over $1 billion each so far in 2022, breaking the previous annual record of 22 events in 2020.
These disasters have caused 253 deaths and $57.6 billion in damages, not including Hurricane Idalia's impacts.
Climate change is supercharging extreme weather, while development in high-risk areas raises disaster impacts.
The record disasters are straining FEMA's disaster relief funds, requiring emergency replenishment from Congress.
Experts say more resilience investments are needed to protect people and infrastructure from worsening extreme weather.

cnn.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/31/2023

Hurricane Idalia could become 2023’s costliest climate disaster for the US

Hurricane Idalia may become the costliest climate disaster in the US this year, with potential damages estimated between $9.36bn and $20bn, highlighting the increasing frequency and severity of weather-related events that are impacting the insurance and risk management industries.

9/12/2023

Record-Breaking Hurricane Pushes 2022 U.S. Billion-Dollar Disaster Tally to 23 and Counting

Hurricane Idalia became the 23rd billion-dollar weather disaster in the United States this year, surpassing the previous record set in 2020, highlighting the increasing frequency and cost of such catastrophes, which experts attribute to factors including climate change and ongoing development in disaster-prone areas.

9/12/2023

Record Disasters Show U.S. Struggling to Adapt to Climate Change Effects

A record 23 billion-dollar disasters in the United States so far this year highlight the country's struggle to adapt to the effects of climate change and the limitations of its defenses, with growing costs from disasters reflecting not only global warming but also the limitations of the federal government's efforts to increase resilience and the challenges of implementing stricter building codes.

9/21/2023

Rising Costs of Extreme Weather Linked to Climate Change Top $2.6 Trillion Since 1980

Climate-related disasters in the US since 1980 that exceeded $1 billion in damage have had a profound economic impact, but they don't fully capture the hidden costs, such as mental and physical trauma, environmental damage, and supply-chain disruptions that people are paying for, as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense due to climate change.

10/9/2023

Climate Crisis Costs $16 Million per Hour in Extreme Weather Damage Over Last 20 Years

The damage caused by extreme weather due to the climate crisis has resulted in a cost of $16 million per hour over the past two decades, with storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts becoming more frequent and intense due to global heating, according to a study that estimates average annual costs of $140 billion, though the figures are likely underestimated due to lack of data.

10/9/2023

China Hit with $42 Billion in Disaster Damages, 24 Million Acres of Crops Affected in 2023's Extreme Weather

China has suffered economic losses of $42 billion over the first nine months of 2023 due to natural disasters, including torrential rains, landslides, hailstorms, and typhoons, which have caused deaths, massive flooding, and crop damage.