Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters

Cost of 200 disasters in the U.S. exceeds $1.1 trillion

Some 200 weather and climate disasters have occurred in the U.S. since 1980, each exceeding  $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2016) in overall damages/costs. The total cost of these 200 events exceeds $1.1 trillion, according to NCDC/NOAA.

Some 12 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States have occurred this year (as of  September), exceeding the 1980–2015 annual average of 5.2 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2011–2015) is 10.8 events (CPI-adjusted).

Four new billion-dollar disaster events have been added during the 3rd quarter, bringing the 2016 event total to 12. This represents the 2nd highest total number of events surpassing the 11 events observed in 2012. The record number of events in one year (since 1980) is 16, as observed in 2011.

The U.S. has also experienced 4 billion-dollar inland flood events during 2016, doubling the previous record, as no more than 2 inland flood events have occurred in a year since 1980. This is a notable record, further highlighted by the numerous other record flooding events that have impacted the U.S. in 2016.

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2016). https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/

Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters – 2014 Update

Eight weather and climate mega disasters in 2014 caused more than $17 billion in losses

In 2014, eight weather and climate events across the United States, each with losses exceeding $1 billion, caused  a total of more than $17 billion in losses.

In 2013, there were nine events with over $24 billion in losses (CPI-adjusted). Since 1980, the year 2011 had the most billion-dollar events (16) while 2005 was the most damaging year with more than $200 billion in losses (CPI-adjusted), according to the official Scorekeeper, the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

The greatest economic impact of the weather and climate events have occurred since 1980 [and are ongoing.] The U.S. experienced 178 weather and climate mega disasters during the 1980-2014 period, with overall damages/costs of each event exceeding $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2015). The total cost of these 178 mega disasters exceeds $1 trillion, said NCEI (NOAA/NCDC).

Global Temperature Analysis

2013 Ties with 2003 as the fourth warmest year on record: NCDC

2013 was the 37th consecutive year (since 1976) with the annual global temperature remaining above average.

Highlights from NCDC Report

• The combined land and ocean surface temperature was 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the 20^th century average of 13.9°C (57.0°F).
• Currently, the warmest year on record is 2010 with the temperature 0.66°C (1.19°F) above average.
• 9 of the 10 warmest years since records began in 1880 have occurred in the 21^st century.
• 1990, the third warmest year on record, is the only one of the top 10 records set in 20^th century.

Global combined land and ocean annually-averaged temperature rank and anomaly for  the 10 warmest years on record (since 1880). Tie is based on temperature anomaly in °C. Data Sourced from NCDC

Global Land Temperature

The average global land temperature in 2013 was 0.99°C (1.78°F) above the 20th century average and ranked as the fourth highest annually-averaged value on record.

Global Ocean Temperature

Globally-averaged ocean surface temperature in 2013 saw an anomaly of 0.48°C (0.86°F) above the 20^th century average, tying with 2006 as the eighth warmest year on record, reported NCDC.

The departure was just 0.04°C (0.07°F) below the record high of 0.58°C (1.04°F), which was set in both 1998 and 2003.

NOTE: The 1901-2000 average combined land and ocean annual temperature is 13.9°C (56.9°F), the annually averaged land temperature for the same period is 8.5°C (47.3°F), and the long-term annually averaged sea surface temperature is 16.1°C (60.9°F).

Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters

Some 151 weather/climate disasters have occurred between 1980 and 2013, with the overall damages/costs reaching or exceeding $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2013). The total cost of these 151 disasters exceeds $1 trillion, according to NCDC.

The 2013 toll of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters across the United States stands at 7 events, which included five severe weather and tornado episodes, a major flood episode, and the western drought/heat wave.

The Land of Rising Heat

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

2012 warmest year on record for continental U.S.

The Lower 48 experienced its warmest year on record in 2012 as the average temperature rose to 12.9°C (55.3°F), some 1.8°C (3.2°F) above the 20^th century average, and 0.6°C (1.0°F) above 1998, the previous warmest year, NOAA reported.

Every state in the contiguous U.S. had an above-average annual temperature for 2012. Nineteen states had a record warm year and an additional 26 states had one of their 10 warmest. Source: NOAA

Other Highlights

• 2012 was the 2nd most extreme year on record for the country, according the U.S. Climate Extremes Index. “The index, which evaluates extremes in temperature and precipitation, as well as landfalling tropical cyclones, was nearly twice the average value and second only to 1998. To date, 2012 has seen 11 disasters that have reached the $1 billion threshold in losses, to include Sandy, Isaac, and tornado outbreaks experienced in the Great Plains, Texas and Southeast/Ohio Valley.”
• The average precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. for 2012 was 67.5 cm (26.57 inches), 6.5 cm (2.57 in) below average.
• The 2012 drought plagued 61 percent of the U.S. at its peak in July. “The dry conditions proved ideal for wildfires in the West, charring 9.2 million acres — the third highest on record.”

Annual Extremes: Several locations throughout the United States experienced temperature and precipitation extremes in 2012. Most striking was the number of locations across the country that broke their average annual temperature record. These records were primarily driven by extremely warm maximum day time temperatures or daily highs, especially during the spring and summer months. More than a dozen of these locations also experienced their driest year on record. In those areas, the combination of the extreme warm and dry period resulted in a drought comparable to the drought episodes of the 1950s. Source: NOAA/NCDC

Significant weather and climate events- Preliminary

Significant weather and climate events- preliminary

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

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DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,158 Days Left 

[January 9, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,158 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

Billion-Dollar Disasters 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,176 Days Left 

[December 22, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,176 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

U.S. clocked up 11 ‘billion-dollar’ extreme weather/climate disasters in 2012 [so far]

The events causing the Mega Disasters as listed by NCDC/NOAA:

• Southeast/Ohio Valley Tornadoes — March 2–3, 2012
• Texas Tornadoes — April 2–3, 2012
• Great Plains Tornadoes — April 13–14, 2012
• Midwest/Ohio Valley Severe Weather — April 28–May 1, 2012
• Southern Plains/Midwest/Northeast Severe Weather — May 25–30, 2012
• Rockies/Southwest Severe Weather — June 6–12, 2012
• Plains/East/Northeast Severe Weather (“Derecho”) — June 29–July 2, 2012
• Hurricane Isaac — August 26–31, 2012
• Western Wildfires — Summer–Fall, 2012
• Hurricane Sandy — October 29–31, 2012
• U.S. Drought/Heatwave — throughout 2012

Disaster cost estimates for 2012 will surpass 2011 (exceeding $60 billion, CPI-adjusted to 2012 dollars), NOAA reported, with Sandy and the yearlong drought being the big drivers, so far this year. The costs are still being calculated, and the final estimates would take many months.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Flooding and Mudslides Leave Thousands of Filipinos Displaced

Disaster Calendar 2012 – April 10

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,436 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

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Philippine flash floods and mudslides affect thousands, destroy crops

Days of heavy rains have caused flash floods in the towns of Claveria and Sta. Praxedes in the northern Philippine province of Cagayan leaving at least 1,200 families displaced, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

“A total of 31 out of 41 villages were inundated in Claveria, affecting 877 families. Ten villages were also inundated in Sta. Praxedes, affecting 338 families.”

• Mudslides  have destroyed houses and dozens of hectares of rice paddies vegetables.
• Flash floods and landslides have claimed dozens of lives in the Philippines since the begin9ing of the year.

Other Global Disasters

• China. Climate-related disasters left [at least] 66 people dead or missing, and affected about 22 million people in the first quarter of 2012 in the Chinese mainland, according to official sources.  
  • The disasters resulted in direct economic losses of 9.63 billion yuan (1.53 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March 2012.
  • Extreme weather events destroyed or damaged more than 2.4 million hectares of crops  and 200,000 homes, the report said.

Significant Events

U.S.A.  The U.S. has recorded its warmest March since records began in 1895, with  more than 15,000 warm temperature records broken during the month, NOAA reported.

2012 year-to-date temperature evolution for Green Bay, Wisconsin versus the previous four warmest years. Source: NOAA/NCDC

• “The average temperature of 51.1°F was 8.6 degrees above the 20^th century average for March and 0.5°F warmer than the previous warmest March in 1910. Of the more than 1,400 months (117+ years) that have passed since the U.S. climate record began, only one month, January 2006, has seen a larger departure from its average temperature than March 2012.”
•   Preliminary data shows that 15,272 warm temperature records were broken (7,755 daytime records, 7,517 nighttime records).
• 25 states east of the Rockies saw their warmest March on record, with an additional 15 states recording temperatures ranking among their ten warmest, said NOAA.
• In contrast, temperatures in Alaska during March, which are not included in the contiguous U.S. average value, were the tenth coolest on record.
• “The first three months of 2012 were also record warm for the contiguous United States with an average temperature of 42.0°F, 6.0°F above the long-term average.”
• As of April 3^rd, 36.8 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in drought,  an increase from 28.8 percent a year ago on April 5, 2011, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
• SPC received 223 preliminary tornado reports during March, about 3 times the averages of 80 tornadoes for the month. “The majority of the tornadoes occurred during the March 2^nd-3^rd outbreak across the Ohio Valley and Southeast, which caused 40 fatalities. Total losses from this event are estimated to exceed $1.5 billion dollars, making this the first event of 2012 to exceed one billion dollars in damages and losses.”

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background 

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar: Collapse has already Begun

Texas Drought Causes Urban Forest Die-off

2011 Texas drought kills 5.6 million urban shade trees: TFS

The historic drought has killed an estimated 5.6 million shade trees, dubbed ‘urban forest,’ throughout the cities, towns and communities across the state of Texas since last year, Texas Forest Service (TFS) reported.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – February 16

[February 16, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,490 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Texas, USA.  Last year’s unrelenting drought killed an estimated 5.6 million shade trees, dubbed urban forest,’ throughout the communities across the state, Texas Forest Service(TFS) reported.
  • “This estimate is preliminary because trees are continuing to die from the drought,” said Pete Smith, Texas Forest Service staff forester and lead researcher. “This means we may be significantly undercounting the number of trees that ultimately will succumb to the drought. That number may not be known until the end of 2012, if ever.”
  • “All cities and towns in Texas were included in the study with the exception of the Trans Pecos region, where tree mortality was determined to be a result of a February 2011 cold snap; not the drought,” said the report.
  • The loss of economic and environmental benefits provided by the trees is estimated at about $280 million per year, TFS said.
  • To prevent safety hazards posed by falling dead trees, the authorities will have to remove them. The estimated cost of  removing the dead trees is $560 million.

Texas Drought Map (Feb. 2012). Source: US Drought Monitor

Other Global Disasters

• Madagascar.   Death toll from Cyclone Giovanna, which struck Madagascar on February 14, 2012, has risen to at least 16, officials have reported.
  • Many people were reported missing and about 100 injured.
  • The deadly Cat 4B cyclone slammed the Indian Ocean island with sustained winds of  231km (143 miles) per hour and wind gusts exceeding 275kph.
  • The storm has destroyed about 4,000 structures, mostly homes, and dozens of schools, leaving up to 15,000 people homeless.
  • Much of the infrastructure in several cities have also been destroyed, with vast areas submerged under up to 3 feet of water.

• Honduras.  Death toll has risen to 360 following a massive prison fire that destroyed large parts of the Comayagua complex located about 100km (60 miles) north of the in Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

• Disaster declaration renewed in Texas
• Drought 2012
• Texas drought kills 500 million trees

• US 2011 Mega Disasters Costs Exceed $52 Billion*
• Billion-dollar disasters of 2011 [Updated]

State of Emergency Declared in Washington

Washington declares a state of emergency amid deadly ice storm

A deadly ice storm swept across the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) following record snowfalls.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 20

[January 20, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,517 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Washington, USA.    Washington’s governor declared a state of emergency following the deadly “Snowmageddon” and ice storm, which swept across PNW killing at least 2 people and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of people in the region.
  • At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a new daily snowfall record of 6.8 inches was set, shattering the previous record of 2.9 inches set in 1954, reports said.
  • “Authorities called for voluntary evacuations of the town of Mapleton, Oregon, which has about 1,000 residents, and some nearby areas because expected flooding,” a report said.

U.S. Weather Warnings Map. Source: NWS

U.S. Composite Satellite Image  (Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni)

Other Global Disasters

• Nevada, USA. Gov. Brian Sandoval has declared a state of emergency after a massive wildfire, fanned by 82-mph winds, burnt thousands of acres near Reno, killing at least 1 person, destroying more than 2 dozen homes and forcing the authorities to evacuate over 10,000 people.
• Oregon, USA.Extensive flooding has forced the Governor to  declare a state of emergency in Marion, Coos, Benton, and Lincoln counties.
  • More counties will likely be added as conditions worsen, he said.
  • The city of Salem has activated its Emergency Operations Center due to flooding.
  • The combined impact of snowmelt and torrential rains have flooded communities across Oregon.
  • “The return of severe winter weather has overwhelmed communities across our state,” the Governor said. “My priority is to ensure the safety of all Oregonians and their properties. With this emergency declaration, I have directed all available state resources to help affected counties in any way possible.”
  • Benton County, Or.Officials have declared Benton County a disaster area. “Flooding and landslides beginning January 18 in the area due to heavy rains and melting snow from a recent snow storm have created high water conditions,” the officials said in a statement. “A preliminary assessment shows damage to roads and homes and closed roads resulting in isolated areas of the county.”
    • “Rising creeks flooded much of Marion and Linn counties, including the communities of Turner and Scio, where hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes and businesses,” said a report.
• Hawaii.  Hawaii County in Hawaii has been declared a Primary Natural Disaster Area by USDA.
  • The disaster declaration follows losses caused by drought that occurred from January 1, 2011, and continues.

• Tennessee, USA. USDA has declared 13 counties in Tennessee as agricultural disaster areas.
  • The disaster declaration follows losses caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred June 1 – October 20, 2011.
  • Primary Disaster Areas:  Henry and Williamson Counties.
  • Contiguous Disaster Areas: Benton, Cheatham, Dickson, Marshall, Carroll, Davidson, Hickman, Maury, Rutherford, Stewart and Weakley counties
• Kentucky, USA.The following counties in the neighboring state of Kentucky were also added to the disaster list because they’re contiguous.
  • Calloway and Graves counties.
• Tennessee, USA.  Seven counties in Tennessee have been declared agricultural Disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rain, high winds, hail and flooding that occurred June 21 – December 5, 2011.
  • Primary Disaster Areas:  Claiborne and Union counties.
  • Contiguous Disaster Areas: Anderson, Campbell, Grainger, Hancock and Knox counties.
• Kentucky, USA. The following counties in the neighboring state of Kentucky were also added to the disaster list because they’re contiguous: Not Specified.
• Virginia, USA. The following counties in the neighboring state of Virginia were also added to the disaster list because they’re contiguous: Lee County.
• Mozambique. Flooding in Mozambique has left at least 5 people dead and made hundreds of others homeless.
  • Tropical depression DANDO, the first to strike Southern Mozambique in nearly 30 years, brought heavy rain and strong winds with gusts of up to 120km, dumping more than 250mm of precipitation over much of the south.
  • The winds and flooding have damaged thousands of homes schools and businesses in Gaza Province, and hundreds more in the capital Maputo.
  • Hundreds of people have lost their home and thousands more have been evacuated.
  • The Mozambican authorities have issued a Red Alert for the southern part of the country, which covers the capital Maputo, Matola city, Many districts in Maputo province, and the coastal areas in Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the National Meteorological Institute (INAM) said.
• USA. Violent sex crimes committed by active U.S. Army soldiers have nearly doubled in the past five years, according to a US Army report.
  • The crimes are blamed, in part, on the trauma of war.
  • Of the 2,811 violent felonies reported in 2011, about a half were violent felony sex crimes, and most were committed in the United States.
  • List of the top five violent felony offenses committed by soldiers in 2011:
    1. Aggravated assault
    2. Rape
    3. Aggravated sexual assault
    4. Forcible sodomy
    5. Child pornography.
  • “One violent sex crime was committed by a soldier every six hours and 40 minutes in 2011.”

Billion-dollar disasters of 2011 [Updated]

Extreme drought, heat waves, floods, unprecedented tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, wildfires and winter storms set  a record 14 weather and climate disasters in 2011 each causing  at least $1 billion in damages.

1. Groundhog Day blizzard (January 29-February 3, 2011)
2. Tornadoes  in Midwest/Southeast (April 4-5, 2011)
3. Tornadoes in Southeast/Midwest  (April 8-11, 2011)
4. Tornadoes in Midwest/Southeast (April 14-16, 2011)
5. Tornadoes in Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest (April 25-28, 2011)
6. Tornadoes in Midwest/Southeast (May 22-27, 2011)
7. Tornadoes and severe weather in Midwest/Southeast (June 18-22, 2011)
8. Drought and Heatwave in Southern Plains/Southwest (Spring-Fall, 2011)
9. Mississippi River flooding (Spring-Summer, 2011)
10. Severe weather in the Rockies and Midwest (July 10-14, 2011)  added Jan. 19, 2012
11. Flooding in the Upper Midwest (Summer 2011)
12. Hurricane Irene (August 20-29, 2011)
13. Wildfires in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona  (Spring-Fall 2011)
14. Tropical Storm Lee (Early September, 2011)  added Jan. 19, 2012)

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

US 2011 Mega Disasters Costs Exceed $52 Billion*

12 Mega Disasters in 2011 [so far]

The U.S. has sustained 112 weather/climate related Mega Disasters over the past 31+ years, with the overall damages/costs exceeding $1 billion: NOAA

*[NOTE: FIRE-EARTH estimates the total cost of damage from 2011 Mega Disasters to exceed $70 billion.]

Disaster Calendar 2011 – December 8

[December 8, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,560 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• United States. The U.S. has sustained 112 weather/climate related Mega Disasters over the past 31+ years, with the overall damages/costs exceeding $1 billion.
• More than 10 percent of these (12 disasters)  have occurred so far this year.
•  The previous record was set in 2008, with nine $1 billion disasters.
• “We have good reason to believe [sic] that what happened this year is not an anomaly, but instead is a harbinger of what is to come,” NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said in an interview.

YOUR models can’t duplicate our forecasts!

[Note: NOAA and IPCC simply lack any weather/climate model with such level of predictive power. There’s NO way Administrator Jane Lubchenco could back her prediction up with any scientific evidence whatever. We know this with complete certainty because Models based on ‘science-as-usual’ assumptions and conventional algorithms are incapable of providing long-term forecasts with any degree of accuracy. On the other hand, forecasts posted on this blog are proven to be unparalleled in accuracy time and time again because they employ powerful models that observe the planet in entirely different lights, and resonate with her movements. While FIRE-EARTH has NO objection to its forecasts being echoed by other sources, the Moderators expect at least basic acknowledgement.]

List of ‘Billion-Dollar’ Disasters that have occurred in 2011, as of posting (source NOAA):

1. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Wildfires Spring-Fall 2011
2. Hurricane Irene, August 20-29, 2011
3. Upper Midwest Flooding, Summer, 2011
4. Mississippi River flooding, Spring-Summer, 2011
5. Southern Plains/Southwest Drought, Heatwave, & Wildfires, Spring-Fall, 2011
6. Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes and Severe Weather June 18-22, 2011
7. Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, May 22-27, 2011
8. Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes, April 25-30, 2011
9. Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 14-16, 2011
10. Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes, April 8-11, 2011
11. Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 4-5, 2011
12. Groundhog Day Blizzard, Jan 29-Feb 3, 2011

Several  new records were set in 2011,  so far, including 

• Texas Drought: The most intense drought 117 years of records occurred in Texas this summer.
• Tornadoes: 199 tornadoes struck on April 27, the highest on record for any single day in the United States.

Across the Globe

• UK. The UK Met Office has issued its highest warning, a red alert, prompting regional authorities to shut hundreds of schools, and causing bridge and road closures, as 90mph winds batter the country’s coastal areas, a report said.
• “Parts of England and Northern Ireland are also being hit by extreme wind and rain.”
• Wind gust of 130 mph were reported in the Ski resort of  Aonach Mor, near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands.
• Police forces in Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, Central Scotland and Lothian and Borders have issued a ‘do not travel’ warning, advising motorists against all travel, as severe winds  batter the country, the report said.

• Colombia. Bogota (Population ~8.8 million), the capital and largest city of Colombia, has declared a state of emergency after extreme rain events triggered severe flooding, inundating the southwestern part of the city and leaving 10,000 people homeless,  El Tiempo newspaper reported.
• “The river’s water volume has reached record levels — 64cm above that which is needed to issue a red alert — flooding more than 700 farms in the surrounding areas,” said the report.
• In all probability water levels would continue to rise.
• More than 21 people were killed, about 40 missing and dozens of others are trapped in the northwestern city of Manizales after a landslide, a report said.
• Since the start of the second rainy season in September, at least 500,000 people have been affected by floods and landslides across the country, including more than 50,000 in Bogota.
• The rainy season has claimed at least 134 lives, destroyed about 1,000 homes and damage up to 80,000 others.

Global Disasters

• 2011 Much More Disastrous
• 2010 Disasters [Includes Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters: 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting

YTD losses from heatwaves, storms, flooding and tornadoes have climbed to at least $35 billion: NWS

Nine separate billion-dollar disasters in the United States, so far this year, tie the record set in 2008, NOAA said.

The losses from thunderstorm in the US reached at least $20 billion in the first 6 months of the year, twice the previous three-year average of $10 billion, NOAA reported.

[August 18, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,672 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

READ THIS FIRST

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In view of the continued hacking and censorship of this blog by the Internet Mafia, the Moderators have decided to maintain only a minimum presence at this site, until further notice.

FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

WordPress is HACKING this blog!

WordPress Continues to Hack Fire-Earth, Affiliated Blogs

The Blog Moderators Condemn in the Strongest Possible Terms the Continued Removal of Content and Hacking of FIRE-EARTH and Affiliated Blogs by WordPress!

Disaster Calendar 2011 – August 18 Entry

• USA. YTD losses from heatwaves, storms, flooding and tornadoes have climbed to at least $35 billion, NWS reported.
• The losses from thunderstorm in the US reached at least $20 billion in the first 6 months of the year, twice the previous three-year average of $10 billion, NOAA reported.
• Nine separate billion-dollar disasters in the United States, so far this year, tie the record set in 2008, NOAA said.
• The U.S. has sustained 108 weather-related disasters over the past 31 years in which overall damages/costs topped $1 billion each, with the total normalized losses exceeding $750 billion.
  

Billion Dollar Weather Disasters 1980 – mid-August 2011. Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge

List of the US Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters 2011 (preliminary)

• Upper Midwest Flooding, Summer, 2011 [losses of $1.0 billion, at least 5 deaths]
• Mississippi River flooding, Spring-Summer, 2011 [up to $4.0 billion; at least 2 deaths]
• Southern Plains/Southwest Drought, Heatwave, & Wildfires, Spring-Summer, 2011 [well over $5.0 billion; losses expected to rise dramatically as events are ongoing]
• Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, May 22-27, 2011 [total losses greater than $7.0 billion; at least 177 deaths]
• Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes, April 25-30, 2011 [total losses greater than $9.0 billion; at least 327 deaths]
• Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 14-16, 2011 [total losses greater than $2.0 billion; at least 38 deaths]
• Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes, April 8-11, 2011 [total losses greater than $2.2 billion; numerous injuries]
• Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 4-5, 2011 [total losses greater than $2.3 billion; at least 9 deaths]
• Groundhog Day Blizzard, Jan 29-Feb 3, 2011 [total losses greater than $2.0 billion; at least 36 deaths]

[Source: NCDC]

 

Related Links

• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Thousands in the U.S.
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar