# 5996
Last August, in Weathering Heights: Billion-Dollar-Plus Weather Disasters, I linked to the National Climatic Data Center site for a detailed report that showed there had already been 9 billion-dollar-plus weather disasters in the United States in 2011.
This tied with 2008 as the highest number of weather related disasters on record, but given that it was only August, the odds favored setting a new record this year.
Despite limited impact by the Atlantic hurricane season this year, as of December 7th, this year’s total now stands at 12.
Although 2005 remains the most expensive year for weather related disasters, the frequency of these events appears to be increasing.
Half of this year’s disasters centered around the record number of tornado outbreaks this past spring.
NOAA has produced an EXTREME WEATHER 2011 website, with a short video introduction by Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service (NWS). The links below provide details on this year’s biggest weather related disasters:
Billion-dollar disasters of 2011 (as of Dec. 7, 2011)
Groundhog Day blizzard »
January 29-February 3, 2011Midwest/Southeast tornadoes »
April 4-5, 2011Southeast/Midwest tornadoes »
April 8-11, 2011Midwest/Southeast tornadoes »
April 14-16, 2011Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest tornadoes »
April 25-28, 2011Midwest/Southeast tornadoes »
May 22-27, 2011Midwest/Southeast tornadoes and severe weather »
June 18-22, 2011Southern Plains/Southwest drought and heatwave »
Spring-Fall, 2011Mississippi River flooding »
Spring-Summer, 2011Upper Midwest flooding »
Summer 2011Hurricane Irene »
August 20-29, 2011Texas, New Mexico, Arizona wildfires »
Spring-Fall 2011
For a fascinating summary of 112 weather related disasters over the past 31 years, NOAA has prepared a 4 page PDF file which you can download.
Each year September is designated National Preparedness Month, and agencies like NOAA, FEMA, and READY.GOV work year round to promote awareness and action.
Truly, the time to prepare for a disaster – weather related or otherwise – is now.
Like death and taxes, disasters are inevitable. A few of my general preparedness blogs include:
In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?
To become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or any other type of disaster: visit the following preparedness sites.
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/
