403 Disasters, $2.945 Trillion in Costs: Why Losing This Database Matters

Since 1980, the US has faced 403 weather and climate disasters, costing over $2.945 trillion. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tracked these events through its “billion-dollar weather and climate disasters” database. However, due to staff cuts, NOAA announced it would no longer update this critical resource. The database, which pooled various private data sources, provided essential insights into the growing costs of devastating weather events. Over the past five years, the average number of such disasters jumped from nine to 24 annually. Every state has experienced at least one billion-dollar disaster since 1980, with some states like Texas facing over 100. The Central, South, and Southeast regions are most vulnerable, typically experiencing a higher frequency of these costly events. While historical data from 1980 to 2024 remains available, no new data will be collected starting in 2025.

Source: arstechnica.com