Climate Change: The Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters

Climate change is making weather disasters more frequent and intense. Since 1980, the U. S. has seen over 400 weather events costing over $1 billion each. The total damage? A staggering $3. 1 trillion. Hurricane Helene alone caused $81 million in damages in Augusta. The city had to clear 4. 5 million cubic yards of debris. That's a lot of cleanup! Climate change is hitting the economy hard. By 2049, the U. S. could be looking at $38 trillion in annual costs. This includes damage from disasters, lost crops, and rising sea levels. Agriculture is feeling the heat too. Shifting rainfall patterns mean farmers may need to change where they grow crops. Public infrastructure is also at risk. Rising sea levels threaten roads, power lines, and water supplies. Governments will have to spend more to keep these systems running. This could slow down the economy. Hurricanes are getting stronger. Warmer ocean temperatures are fueling more intense storms. From 2019 to 2023, about 80% of Atlantic hurricanes saw their wind speeds increase by an average of 18 mph. Climate change is not just about the environment. It's about the economy, public health, and our daily lives. It's a complex issue that requires urgent action.