Tag Archives: Natural Disasters

As cost-of-living surges homelessness jumps to 18.1% in 2024

Homeless Tents

Important Takeaways:

  • Homelessness in the U.S. jumped 18.1% this year, hitting a record level, with the dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in some regions of the country, federal officials said Friday.
  • More than 770,000 people were counted as homeless in federally required tallies taken across the country during a single night in January 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said in its new report. The estimate likely undercounts the number of unhoused people given that it doesn’t include people staying with friends or family because they don’t have a place of their own.
  • Vulnerable Americans have been hard hit during the post-pandemic years as many government supports ended, including the eviction moratorium. At the same time, housing costs are surging, causing a record number of renters to be cost-burdened, or paying more than 30% of their income on housing, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
  • California, the most populous state in the U.S., continued to have the nation’s largest homeless population, followed by New York, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts.

Read the original article by clicking here.

2024 natural disasters cost more than $200 billion and that’s just the top 10

Valencia Floods

Important Takeaways:

  • The 10 costliest climate disasters in 2024 racked up damage totaling more than 200 billion US dollars, Christian Aid has warned.
  • A report from the charity on hurricanes, floods, typhoons and storms influenced by climate change warns that the top 10 disasters each cost more than 4 billion US dollars in damage (£3.2 billion).
  • The figures are based mostly on insured losses, so the true costs are likely to be even higher, Christian Aid said…
  • The single most costly event in 2024 was Hurricane Milton, which scientists say was made windier, wetter and more destructive by global warming, and which caused 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion) of damage when it hit the US in October.
  • That is closely followed by Hurricane Helene, which cost 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion) when it hit the US, Mexico and Cuba just two weeks before Milton in late September.
  • The US was hit by so many costly storms throughout the year that even when hurricanes are removed, other storms cost more than 60 billion US dollars in damage, the report said
  • The 10 costliest climate disasters of 2024 were:
  • – US storms, December to January, more than 60 billion US dollars;– Hurricane Milton in the US, October 9-13, 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion);– Hurricane Helene in the US, Mexico, Cuba, 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion);– China floods, June 9-July 14, 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion);– Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia from September 1 to 9, 12.6 billion US dollars (£10 billion);– Hurricane Beryl, in the US, Mexico and Caribbean islands from July 1-11, 6.7 billion US dollars (£5.3 billion);– Storm Boris in central Europe, September 12-16, 5.2 billion US dollars (£4.1 billion);– Rio Grande do Sul floods in Brazil, April 28-May 3, 5 billion US dollars (£4 billion);– Bavaria floods, Germany, June 1-7, 4.45 billion US dollars (£3.5 billion);– Valencia floods, Spain, on October 29, 4.22 billion US dollars (£3.4 billion).

Read the original article by clicking here.

Records show Natural Disasters are becoming frequent and expensive

weather disasters by state

Important Takeaways:

  • Nine out of the 10 years with the highest number of natural disasters occurred in the last decade.
  • The number of natural weather disasters with damages of more than a billion dollars has increased over the last forty years, from an average 3.3 per year in the 1980s to 17+ from 2014–2023.
  • Since 1980, there have been 395 natural weather disasters in the US with total costs over $1 billion in 2024 dollars, including 201 severe storms, 63 tropical cyclones (or hurricanes), 44 floods, 31 droughts, 24 winter storms, 23 wildfires, and nine freezes.
  • In total, these disasters cost $2.77 trillion (adjusting for inflation) and took the lives of nearly 16,500 people.
  • The bulk of these events happened post-1990: In the 1980s, there were a total of 33-billion-dollar natural disaster events, with 2,994 deaths. In the last 10 full years (2014–2023), this number rose to 173, resulting in 5,872 deaths. All told, nearly 40% of the billion-dollar climate events that have hit the US since 1980 happened between 2017 and the present day.
  • 2023 had the most billion-dollar natural disaster events of any year to date.
  • Which types of natural disasters are the costliest?
  • Major tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, have done the most damage in terms of both total costs and loss of life.
  • The eight costliest natural disasters since 1980 were all tropical cyclones, with 2005’s Hurricane Katrina as the costliest at $200B. After adjusting for inflation, these eight events accounted for $888 billion in damages. Cyclones account for just over half of all costs associated with billion-dollar disasters, with approximately $1.4 trillion in total damages.
  • Tropical cyclones were also responsible for 6,934 deaths, or 42.0% of the total caused by billion-dollar disasters, with the two most fatal — Katrina and 2017’s Hurricane Maria — accounting for 4,814.
  • Droughts, which can be fatal during extreme heat, accounted for another 27.4% of deaths, though most of those were pre-2000.
  • There have been 395 billion-dollar natural disasters since 1980.
  • Which states are most affected by natural disasters?
  • Historically, the South, Central, and Southeast regions incurred the highest costs from billion-dollar disaster events. Texas, Florida, and Louisiana disasters cost the most, each paying for more than $300 billion in damages (in 2024 dollars) since 1980.
  • Billion-dollar natural disaster costs from Texas, Louisiana, and Florida totaled more than $1.14 trillion since 1980.

Read the original article by clicking here.

Michael Snyder: A world of chaos and 50 things that you should stock up on

Snip20240825_20-Apocalypse

Important Takeaways:

  • Are you getting prepared? Right now, millions of Americans are stockpiling food and supplies in anticipation of what they believe is coming.  People are on edge due to the approaching election, the rapidly escalating war in the Middle East, the alarming natural disasters that we have been witnessing all around the world, and the potential for another great global pandemic.  In all my years, I have never seen more concern about the next 12 months as I am seeing at this moment.  There is a growing consensus that major history changing events are about to happen, and there are lots and lots of people that want to be well prepared.  In fact, Newsweek has reported that “doomsday prepping” has become a 2.46 billion dollar industry…
  • If you really want to be well prepared, you should consider everything that you will need if there is no power and you can no longer get anything from the stores because supply chains have completely broken down.
  • I have shared a list of 50 basic things that I believe that everyone should be stockpiling in a couple of my books, and today I would like to share that list with all of you…
  • #1 A Conventional Generator And A Solar Generator
  • #2 A Berkey Water Filter
  • #3 A Rainwater Collection System If You Do Not Have A Natural Supply Of Water Near Your Home
  • #4 A Large Emergency Medical Kit
  • #5 Rice
  • #6 Pasta
  • #7 Canned Soup
  • #8 Canned Vegetables
  • #9 Canned Fruit
  • #10 Canned Chicken
  • #11 Jars Of Peanut Butter
  • #12 Salt
  • #13 Sugar
  • #14 Powdered Milk
  • #15 Bags Of Flour
  • #16 Yeast
  • #17 Lots Of Extra Coffee (If You Drink It)
  • #18 Buckets Of Long-Term Storable Food
  • #19 Lots Of Extra Vitamins
  • #20 Lighters Or Matches
  • #21 Candles
  • #22 Flashlights Or Lanterns
  • #23 Plenty Of Wood To Burn
  • #24 Extra Blankets
  • #25 Extra Sleeping Bags
  • #26 Ammunition
  • #27 Extra Fans If You Live In A Hot Climate
  • #28 Hand Sanitizer
  • #29 Toilet Paper
  • #30 Extra Soap And Shampoo
  • #31 Extra Toothpaste
  • #32 Extra Razors
  • #33 Bottles Of Bleach
  • #34 A Battery-Powered Radio
  • #35 Extra Batteries
  • #36 Solar Chargers
  • #37 Trash Bags
  • #38 Tarps
  • #39 A Pocket Knife
  • #40 A Hammer
  • #41 An Axe
  • #42 A Shovel
  • #43 Work Gloves
  • #44 Lots Of Warm Socks
  • #45 Seeds For A Garden
  • #46 Canning Jars
  • #47 Extra Supplies For Your Pets
  • #48 A Substantial Emergency Supply Of Cash
  • #49 Bibles For Every Member Of Your Family
  • #50 A “Bug Out Bag” For Every Member Of Your Family

Read the original article by clicking here.

With less than a month’s notice major insurance companies drop churches from coverage

Important Takeaways:

  • Major insurance companies drop churches from coverage as natural disasters become more frequent: ‘This does not make sense’
  • Due to a perfect storm of climate-related factors, stress has arrived at some ministry doors, leaving people concerned about the financial future of those churches.
  • The Baptist Paper reported that an “ongoing wave of disasters,” including hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, are combining with ballooning construction costs to send insurance companies into a panic.
  • As a result, church insurers have begun dropping “high-risk” churches — or charging exorbitant price increases — to recoup their losses.
  • Insurers are feeling the pressure in places like Texas, California, and Louisiana, all of which have seen an increase in extreme climate-related weather. Now, churches in those areas are scrambling to assess whether they can afford to continue paying insurance — or operating at all.
  • Without insurance, churches may not be able to function as community resources, serving vulnerable people from all walks of life.

Read the original article by clicking here.

FEMA burning through funds as increased Natural Disasters take us into the peak season

Tropical Storm System Brings Heavy Rain And Wind To Washington, D.C. Area

Important Takeaways:

  • The nation’s disaster agency is being stretched to the limit by a spate of storms and wildfires so far in 2024, and the busiest time of year for the Federal Emergency Management Agency is just beginning.
  • FEMA issued 100 disaster and emergency declarations — for 58 severe storms and flooding events and 42 fires — through the first week of August, according to the agency’s database. That is nearly as many as all of last year (114) and well past the 90 declarations of disasters and fire emergencies the agency issued in 2022.
  • It is still short of the all-time high of 315 declarations issued by FEMA in 2020, but with the expected active hurricane season ahead and the threat of wildfires continuing in the West, that record isn’t out of reach.
  • The flurry of emergency responses comes as FEMA shifts into what is known as “immediate needs funding” mode, in which new obligations not necessary for lifesaving and life-sustaining activities will be paused, the agency announced on Aug. 7.
  • And last week the Department of Energy announced it will invest $2.2 billion in projects to make the electrical grid more resilient.
  • Meantime, FEMA officials are anxiously waiting for Congress to return in September and consider providing additional disaster aid, including $9 billion for FEMA that was part of an administration request last October.
  • FEMA has said the deficit in its disaster relief fund could reach $6 billion by Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

Read the original article by clicking here.

After reading this I’m convinced that these Scientists are creating our Doom

Scrabble-tiles-Warning

Important Takeaways:

  • 3 Existential Threats That We Are Facing Right Now Which Could Potentially Result In Millions Of Dead Americans
  • In recent years, there has been one enormous crisis after another. We live at a time of major wars, global pestilences and billion-dollar natural disasters.
  • Today, our scientists are taking some of the deadliest diseases ever known to humanity and are purposely trying to make them “more infectious”. Here is just one example…
    • [Daily Mail report] The US government is spending $1million of American taxpayer money to fund experiments on dangerous bird flu viruses in collaboration with Chinese scientists.
  • According to the CDC, bird flu has a death rate of more than 50 percent in humans.
  • And these researchers want to make it “more infectious”?
  • And the head of the WHO is warning that the timing of the next great global outbreak is “a matter of when, not if”…
    • [Brietbart reports] At the World Government Summit, held in Dubai from February 12-14, Ghebreyesus told attendees his previous predictions came to fruition in the form of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Now, the W.H.O. director believes a new pandemic, for which the international community is ill-prepared, is on the horizon.
    • Renewing urgent calls for a global pandemic treaty to be agreed upon by May, Ghebreyesus dismissed suspicions of the treaty being a W.H.O. power-grab and called it “mission critical for humanity.”

Read the original article by clicking here.

Look back at 2022 in report of natural disasters in US

Satellite Image Hurricane Ian

Luke 21:25-26 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Important Takeaways:

  • Grim 2022 US Climate Report Details $165 Billion in Disaster Costs
  • NOAA cataloged 18 weather and climate-related disasters that each topped $1 billion in losses. “These disasters included six severe storms, three tropical cyclones, three hail events, two tornadoes and one each for drought, flood, winter storm and wildfire events,”
  • Total US disaster costs went over $165 billion
  • Hurricane Ian’s impact on Florida was a big driver behind that figure, accounting for $112.9 billion.
  • NOAA’s count of 1,331 tornadoes (near average number)
  • NOAA cataloged 66,000 wildfires that consumed 7.5 million acres, which was also near average
  • NOAA totaled the 2022 western and central US drought and heat wave cost at over $22 billion.
  • Water levels in the Mississippi River dropped so low critical barge traffic was interrupted.

Read the original article by clicking here.

White House asks Congress for funding on Afghanistan and hurricanes

By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden’s aides on Tuesday asked Congress for billions in new funds to deal with hurricanes and other natural disasters as well as the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan.

The White House said in a blog post at least $24 billion in new money will be needed for disasters, including Hurricane Ida, and $6.4 billion will be needed for the Afghan evacuation and refugee resettlement.

The request for Congress to pass a short-term funding bill known as a continuing resolution underscored the financial strain posed by two crises that have occupied Biden in recent days.

It also set up a coming showdown with Congress over whether it will fund the full set of Biden’s policy priorities or even ongoing government functions by raising what is known as the debt ceiling.

About 124,000 people were evacuated last month from Kabul in a U.S.-led airlift of U.S. and other foreign citizens as well as vulnerable Afghans as the Taliban took control of the country during the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The evacuation was one of the largest airlifts in history but thousands of at-risk Afghans and about 100 U.S. citizens have remained behind.

Meanwhile, Biden was traveling in flood-damaged New Jersey on Tuesday, one of several states suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The president has sought to highlight the financial toll of stronger storms whipped up by climate change.

Biden’s acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Shalanda Young, said in a blog post that some of the temporary funding would go to still-unmet needs from prior hurricanes and wildfires even as the government responds to Hurricane Ida.

She also said most of the funds directed toward the Afghan effort would be for sites to process refugees from the country recently overtaken by the Taliban as well as public health screenings and resettlement resources.

The funding measure would give lawmakers additional time to negotiate over Biden’s proposals to spend trillions on new social safety net programs, infrastructure and other priorities he wants to fund with tax hikes on corporations and wealthy individuals.

Biden in May proposed a $6 trillion budget plan for the fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1, reflecting a sharp increase including measures for climate resilience. Lawmakers are also tangling over separate, Biden-backed legislation that would spent $1 trillion on infrastructure and $3.5 trillion on social safety net spending.

Young said the short-term spending bill “will allow movement toward bipartisan agreement on smart, full-year appropriations bills that reinvest in core priorities, meet the needs of American families, businesses and communities, and lay a strong foundation for the future.”

Congressional debate is expected to heat up in the coming weeks over whether lawmakers will raise the debt ceiling, the government’s ability to borrow to pay for programs it has already authorized. The Treasury is due to run out of money sometime in October.

Biden’s Democratic Party controls the House of Representatives and Senate by only narrow margins, with the balance of power at stake in elections next year.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Chris Reese and Alistair Bell)

Catastrophes set to drive 2020 reinsurance rates higher

FILE PHOTO: An "Emergency shelter" sign points to the Pedro Menendez High School ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in St. Augustine, Florida, U.S., September 2, 2019. REUTERS/Marco Bello - RC1823A64B90/File Photo

By Carolyn Cohn and Lena Masri

LONDON (Reuters) – Big insurance losses from hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters over the past two years are set to push reinsurance renewal rates higher in January, ratings agencies said.

After falling for several years due to competition and fewer natural disasters, renewal rates have started to climb in the past couple of years and for 2020 are set to rise on average by as much as 5%.

However, as Hurricane Dorian ravages the Bahamas and bears down on the United States, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P Global said some rates could jump by much more than that.

S&P said rates would likely rise by around 5%, Moody’s expected rises of 0-5%, while Fitch predicted 1-2%, in briefings ahead of the reinsurance industry’s annual conference in Monte Carlo which begins on Saturday.

Reinsurers such as Swiss Re, Munich Re, and the Lloyd’s of London market help insurers share the risks of disasters in return for part of the premium.

“It’s not a hard market but it’s a hardening market, there’s more positive momentum,” Ali Karakuyu, lead analyst at S&P Global, told a media briefing.

Fellow analyst David Masters said the industry was likely to see “mid-single-digit price increases” as a result.

Insurers are increasingly concerned about the impact of bad weather linked to climate change, with an increase in wildfires in California among the most costly in recent years, something S&P said could see rates there jump 30-70%.

“This market remains in disarray, which will fuel further rate increases,” a slide from the S&P presentation said.

Analysts at UBS estimated that the reinsurance industry is in an excess capital position of around $30 billion, but that an estimated $70 billion of natural catastrophe losses in 2019 could erode this excess capital.

Moody’s analysts said lines of business that have been performing badly over the last few years, for example due to losses related to hurricanes in the United States, would see price rises in the mid-teens.

Fitch Senior Director Graham Coutts said he expected average rates to rise 1-2%, similar to the increases seen in January 2019, although further rises could be seen depending on the scale of losses from Dorian and other hurricanes.

(Editing by Simon Jessop/Alexander Smith/Susan Fenton)