New Home for Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters Database
Transition Following Trump Administration Cuts
The national database documenting weather and climate disasters costing over a billion dollars has found a new platform after being discontinued by the Trump administration earlier this year. Despite challenges stemming from reduced federal support, researchers have continued to track these significant events, with 2023 on course to become one of the most financially devastating years to date.
NCEI Stops Updating Disaster Data
Previously, the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) provided comprehensive data on billion-dollar disasters dating back to 1980 on a federal website. However, in May, NCEI announced it would cease updates to this resource, citing “evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes” within the Trump administration.
Importance of Climate Data Preservation
Since taking office, former President Donald Trump has rapidly removed critical climate change information from government platforms. This move sparked legal challenges and prompted widespread efforts by various stakeholders to archive essential data needed for public health and safety policies. The billion-dollar disaster database, along with its risk assessment map, was designed to assist communities in understanding vulnerabilities and adapting building codes accordingly.
Climate Central Takes Initiative
In response to this void, the nonprofit research organization Climate Central has launched its own version of the billion-dollar disaster database on its website. This updated tool continues to monitor and report on weather and climate-related calamities responsible for damages exceeding $1 billion. It includes data from 1980 onward and adjusts for inflation, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
Adam Smith, who led the development of NCEI’s billion-dollar disaster tool for 15 years, is now directing the initiative at Climate Central.
A Record-Breaking Start to 2023
Climate Central’s analysis of the first half of 2023 has revealed that 14 individual disasters have collectively resulted in losses of $101.4 billion, marking an unprecedented financial impact in the U.S. The country typically encounters nine billion-dollar disasters annually; however, the frequency and severity of these events have markedly increased since 1980. During that decade, the average annual number of such disasters was a mere three.
The trend has sharply escalated, witnessing record highs in the last two years with 28 disasters in 2021 and 27 in 2022. Furthermore, inflation-adjusted average annual costs have surged over six-fold, reaching approximately $153.2 billion per year in the current decade, compared to just $22.6 billion during the 1980s.
Costliest Wildfire Event on Record
The onset of 2023 was marked by the most expensive wildfire event in U.S. history, occurring in the greater Los Angeles area. With losses exceeding $60 billion, the wildfires in January contribute significantly to making the first half of 2023 the most costly on record, as documented in the disaster database.
Conclusion
As the situation evolves, the newly maintained database by Climate Central plays a crucial role in documenting and analyzing the increasing financial toll of weather-related disasters, providing valuable insights for communities and policymakers alike.
