Record Natural Disaster Losses in 2011
January 19, 2012 | Voice of America
“The United Nations reports 2011 was the costliest year in history for catastrophes. It says economic losses from natural disasters, including earthquakes, storms and floods, amounted to $366 billion.” Quoted from the Voice of America article. |
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Billion Dollar Disasters
January 9, 2012 | NOAA
NOAA has a website that provides information on all weather and climate-related disasters that have produced damages of over $1 billion in the United States since 1980. Their website has a variety of maps, charts, lists and narratives.
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Flooding in Guatemala and El Salvador
October 16, 2011 | CNN
Heavy rains from Hurricane Jova have caused severe flooding in Guatemala and El Salvador. Dozens of people have been killed.
In Mexico the storm has caused major damage to food crops. |
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Typhoons Nalgae and Nesat over Luzon, Philippines
October 4, 2011 | NASA Earth Observatory
“In a matter of five days, the Philippines and southeastern Asia were hammered by two intense tropical storms in late September and early October 2011. Several months worth of rain fell within a week—a deluge even by tropical standards—on Luzon in the northern Philippines, as well as in northern Vietnam and the Chinese island of Hainan.” Quoted from the NASA image release.
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Cyclone Over Lake Michigan
September 29, 2011 | NASA Earth Observatory
“At 3:05 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 26, 2011, NASA’s Aqua satellite observed a mid-latitude cyclone over the midwestern United States. The center of the storm appeared immediately west of Lake Michigan.” Quoted from the NASA Earth Observatory image release. |
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Typhoon Roke Hits Japan
September 21, 2011 | CNN
CNN has reported that Typhoon Roke hit Japan with sustained winds of 103 miles per hour early Wednesday morning. |
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Building Codes and Multiple Natural Hazards
September 16, 2011 | National Institute of Standards and Technology
“As large parts of the nation recover from nature’s one-two punch—an earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene—building researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology warn that a double whammy of seismic and wind hazards can increase the risk of structural damage to as much as twice the level implied in building codes.” Quoted from the National Institute of Standards and Technology news release. |
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Tropical Storm Landfall Threat Probabilities
September 13, 2011 | University of Miami
“Scientists at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science have found an intriguing relationship between hurricane tracks and climate variability.” Quoted from the University of Miami press release. |
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2011: A Record Year for Insured Catastrophe Losses?
September 12, 2011 | Bloomberg
Earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding are making 2011 one of the most expensive years for insured catastrophe losses. Swiss Re reports insured losses of about $70 billion for the first half of the calendar year. |
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Hurricane Irene Damage Estimate: $6.6 Billion
September 12, 2011 | Forbes
A report published by Aon Benfield, a leader in the reinsurance field, estimates that Hurricane Irene cause $6.6 billion in damages. |
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Hurricane Katia Expected to Track into the Atlantic
September 8, 2011 | National Hurricane Center
Hurricane Katia is a Category One storm off the east coast of the United States. During the next few days it is expected to track east out into the Atlantic Ocean. |
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Landslides in Japan
September 8, 2011 | The Landslide Blog
The Landslide Blog has images and descriptions of landslides that occurred in Japan as a result of Typhoon Talas. |
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Hurricane Irene: Coastal Change Aerial Images
September 7, 2011 | USGS
Pre- and post-storm photo comparisons between Cape Lookout, NC and Oregon Inlet, NC. ”
The barrier island coast between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras has a very different orientation than the coast between Cape Hatteras and Oregon Inlet; in fact, together, they form nearly a right angle. This difference in orientation has contributed to differences in impact on each coast during the passage of Hurricane Irene.” Quoted from the USGS news release. |
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Massive Landslide in Taiwan
September 7, 2011 | The Landslide Blog
Dave Petley has posted several images of a massive landslide in Taiwan caused by typhoon Nanmadol. |
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Hurricane Katia – Category 3
September 6, 2011 | National Hurricane Center
“LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY KATIA WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT MOST OF THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES…BERMUDA…THE GREATER ANTILLES…AND EAST-FACING BEACHES OF THE BAHAMAS DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.” Quoted from the National Hurricane Center. |
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Interactive Hurricane Track Maps
September 5, 2011 | NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has an interactive map of the United States that allows you to create historic hurricane track maps for specific locations, time intervals, specific storms and more. |
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Tropical Storm Lee: Flooding in Gulf Coast States
September 4, 2011 | NOLA.com
Tropical Storm Lee has been dumping heavy rain on the Gulf Coast and while many areas are experiencing heavy floods, New Orleans, so far (Sunday evening), has not had severe problems. Some of the most up-to-date information is on the NOLA.com website (the site is very busy because so many people are using it and can be unresponsive). |
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Tropical Storm Lee – Flooding in New Orleans
September 3, 2011 | National Hurricane Center
Tropical Storm Lee is moving very slowly over southern Louisiana. That slow rate of movement will allow it to drop very large amounts of rain on New Orleans and surrounding areas.
“TROPICAL STORM LEE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES OVER SOUTHERN LOUISIANA…SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI…AND SOUTHERN ALABAMA THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES. THESE RAINS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE EXTENSIVE FLOODING.” Quote from the National Hurricane Center. |
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Aerial Image: Irene Flooding Cuts Hatteras Island
September 1, 2011 | Earth Observatory
Flooding from Hurricane Irene sliced through State Route 12, the only highway serving northern Hatteras Island cutting off about 2300 residents. NASA’s Earth Observatory has a high resolution aerial image of the damage from NOAA’s Hurricane Irene Project.
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Hurricane Katia
September 1, 2011 | National Hurricane Center
Hurricane Katia has formed in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to pass north of Puerto Rico early next week.
“KATIA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS…AND KATIA COULD BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE THIS WEEKEND.” Quote from the National Hurricane Center. |
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