A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental, Safety, and Sustainability Office said that since January, as many as 18 weather and climate disasters took place in the country, each incurring losses that exceeded $1 billion.
The disasters included nine severe storms, four tropical cyclones, two flooding events, one combined drought and heat wave, one wildfire, and one combined winter storm and cold wave, the report noted.
A staggering number of 538 people lost their lives in these disasters, "which is more than twice the number of deaths from all billion-dollar disasters that occurred in 2020."
"Total losses due to property and infrastructure damage is up to $104.8 billion so far — eclipsing $100.2 billion incurred last year (adjusted for 2021 inflation)," the report pointed out.
This is the seventh consecutive year the US experienced 10 or more billion-dollar disasters.
More about: United-States climate
