NOAA Says 2023 America's Worst Year Ever for Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The U.S. has had more costly weather-related disasters in 2023 than any other year on record, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The Details: An NOAA report released Monday says there have been 23 weather disasters this year with losses over $1 billion. This includes 18 storms, two flooding events, one tropical cyclone, one winter storm, and the Hawaii wildfires.
Key Quotes: "For this year-to-date period, the first eight months of 2023 rank highest for disaster count, ahead of 2020 with 16 disasters. The total cost of these events exceeds $57.6 billion, and they have resulted in 253 direct and indirect fatalities," the report states.
How the Media Covered it: Left- and center-rated sources covered the news prominently; few right-rated sources covered it at all. Some suggested the report is evidence that more needs to be done to combat climate change; the report itself doesn't mention climate change directly. Axios (Lean Left bias) reported that the rise in costly weather disasters "likely reflects both trends in extreme weather events and population growth, including in vulnerable areas with certain hazards — such as coastal and other low-lying areas," the latter of which is "thought to be more significant to date."
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From the Center
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This year is already the worst year on record for billion-dollar climate disasters in the U.S., a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said, as experts warn that extreme events are likely to become more frequent and intense unless drastic action is taken to curb human-driven climate change.
There have been 23 separate weather or climate disasters in 2023 so far that have caused at least $1 billion in estimated damages, the NOAA report said.
With four months of 2023 still left and damages from several recent disasters still...
From the Left
NOAA: 2023 worst year on record for billion-dollar disasters
The U.S. experienced 23 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the first eight months of 2023 — the largest number since records began.
Driving the news: "With approximately four months still left in the year, 2023 has already surpassed the previous record of 22 events seen in all of 2020," per a statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) accompanying its report on the disasters Monday.
By the numbers: The 23 events include:
18 severe weather events.
Two flooding events.
One tropical cyclone (Hurricane Idalia).
One wildfire event.
One winter storm event.
Threat level: "These events caused...
From the Right
America has already beaten the record for 'billion-dollar' disasters in a year - with three months to go and the peak of hurricane season
America has already set a record for 'billion-dollar' disasters in a given year - even with three months to go and the peak of hurricane season still remaining.
According to NOAA, which has been tracking billion-dollar weather disasters in the US since 1980 and adjusting costs for inflation, this year's storms have already cost more than $57.6billion and claimed at least 253 lives.
The disasters include the Maui wildfires, Hurricane Idalia in Florida and flooding in the Northeast.
There have been 23 billion-dollar storms this year, beating the previous record of 22 in...
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