NOAA: U.S. Natural Disasters In 2016 Caused $46B In Damages

The United States experienced 15 “weather and climate disasters” last year — each with losses exceeding US$1 billion — for a total of US$46 billion, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on Monday. The disasters, which included eight severe storms, four inland floods, one wildfire (affecting multiple areas), one drought (affecting multiple areas) and Hurricane Matthew, claimed a total of 138 lives, NOAA said in a press release. This is the second highest number of disasters experienced in one year, with double the record number of inland flooding events for one year, the agency said, adding that since 1980, the U.S. has sustained more than 200 weather and climate disasters that exceeded US$1.1 trillion in overall damages.

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