Cost of Climate-Related Disasters in 2016 so far

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From the Homeland Security Wire: U.S. suffered at least $8 billion climate-related disasters so far this year

We are only halfway through 2016 and the United States has already seen eight weather and climate-related disasters* that have each met or exceeded $1 billion in damages. These eight disasters resulted in the loss of thirty lives, and caused at least $13.1 billion. Since 1980 the United States has sustained 196 weather and climate disasters in which overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 196 events exceeds $1.1 trillion.

From the Wall St. Journal: Earthquakes and Storms Raise Costs of Natural Disasters.
Earthquakes in Japan, storms in the U.S. and Europe, and wildfires in Canada caused the greatest damage in the first half

Smarter Disaster Planning Needed

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From Scientific American: U.S. Needs Smarter Disaster Planning

Defenses against storms and floods, built on past events, will fail unless emergency planners use forward-looking data that account for rapid climate change.

 

Update from Don Watson: The DRAFT Report (116 pp.) is comprehensive with measures across a number of sectors not commonly referenced including community volunteerism as measure of capacity and is downloadable here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Water Marks As a Graphic Reminder

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High-Water Mark Signs Coming to Some Jersey Shore Towns

As many as 100 high-water mark signs will be installed in prominent locations throughout Monmouth County to commemorate Hurricane Sandy’s flood inundation, officials announced.

According to a county release, the goal is to ensure the public remains diligent about undertaking long-term actions to protect themselves, properties, and communities.

Hurricane Evacuation Studies

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Disaster evacuation; Looking for ways to predict response to hurricane evacuation orders

Millions of people will likely be in harm’s way as a new hurricane season unfolds in the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts up to eight hurricanes in the 2016 season, and as many as four major storms with winds of 111 miles per hour or more. What people do – or do not do – to get out of harm’s way is of keen interest to disaster and emergency response officials. Plans and contingencies work best when they are based on reliable predictions.

Education Disrupted by Disasters

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Thousands Of Schools Ruined By Disasters, Leaving Kids Without Education
Yet less than two percent of humanitarian aid is earmarked for education.

This report seeks to shine a light on the continuing impact that disasters have on education by profiling five specific events that struck the Asia-Pacific region in 2015 – the earthquakes in Nepal, floods in Indonesia and Myanmar, Typhoon Koppu in the Philippines, and Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. Some of the profiles are of large disasters such as that in Nepal, while others are recurring disasters that force children out of school on an annual or semi-annual basis, such as the typhoons in the Philippines or floods in Indonesia. Many of these are not identified as major disasters by any national or international declaration.

Direct URL to the report by the Save the Children Foundation.

Climate Change Reports re Boston and NYC

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Boston and NYC have had many traditional rivalries, such as those between the Red Sox and the Yankees.  Recently, there have been a series of articles about the climate change and coastal risks in both of these major northeastern cities. The NYTimes writes about climate change in the NY area frequently.

Far less is known and talked about publicly for the Boston area.Recently the local public radio station took on the topic. See: Why New York Is Better Prepared For Flooding Than Boston. A new research report from Univ. of MA/Boston indicates greater problems than have been discussed publicly to date. See: Climate change could be even worse for Boston than previously thought. The direct URL to the Climate Research Boston report is here. Both a 19 page summary and the full 60 page report are available at this location.

Expected Increase in Hurricane Damages

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New 38 page report from the Congressional Budget Office: Potential Increases in Hurricane Damage in the United States: Implications for the Federal Budget; June 2, 2016.

How much will hurricane damage increase in coming years because of climate change and coastal development? This report examines the implications for the federal budget and three approaches for decreasing the pressure for federal spending.