Record Number of Billion-Dollar U.S. Disasters

From drought to floods and tornadoes, 2011 has seen more than its fair share of devastation.

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), total economic damage costs in the U.S. exceed $35 billion so far in 2011!

This includes nine "billion-dollar weather disasters" since January! This is an unbelievable number of events of this magnitude crammed into just over 7 months.

Dating back to 1980, we have now tied 2008 for the most billion-dollar weather disasters recorded in one full year. This was from a wide variety of weather events including tornadoes, floods, drought, wildfires and three hurricanes.

With the peak of the hurricane season ahead, it's not out of the question that this undesirable record could be topped in 2011.

This information comes from a list of billion-dollar weather disasters since 1980, which is compiled by NOAA. From 1980 to 2010 there has been a total of 99. The map at the right ( click to enlarge) shows the number of these disasters that have occurred in each state since 1980, but not including 2011. Keep in mind, a single billion-dollar disaster can include multiple states.

	Cars abandoned in Chicago (Source: twitpic.com/EddiesTPWong)

• Affected many central and eastern states, causing at least $2 billion in total losses.
• Chicago recorded its biggest 24-hour snow total with 20 inches. Tulsa, Okla., was buried under 14 inches.
• Maps: See the snow totals | Snow reports
• Photos: Blizzard's fury

	Tree crushes a car in Memphis, Tenn. (Image credit: twitgoo.com OOHH_My)

• A massive wind damage event with tornadoes swept from the Ohio Valley to the South and mid-Atlantic. Total damage estimate at least $2.3 billion.
• More than 1,350 damaging wind reports. Estimated 46 tornadoes.
• See: Storm damage photos

	A truck was tossed into this basement in Pocahontas County, Iowa (Image credit: yfrog.com ktivnews)

• Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes hit portions of the Midwest, South and Plains. Total damage estimate of $2.2 billion.
• Severe damage and several injuries were caused by a tornado in Pulaski, Va., on April 8.
• An EF3 tornado leveled Mapleton, Iowa, on April 9 (see storm reports map).
• At least 14 confirmed tornadoes in Wisconsin on April 10, a record for any April day in the state. An EF3 tornado heavily damaged Merrill, Wis. (see storm reports map).
• See: Storm damage photos

	Damage in Tushka, Okla. (AP photo)

• Three-day siege of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes from the central and southern Plains to Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia and the Carolinas. Total damage estimate over $2 billion.
• Preliminary number of tornadoes: 160
• Both the Jackson, Miss., and Raleigh, N.C., metro areas were hit by tornadoes.
• 38 fatalities combined in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia.
• See reports: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
• See photos: Damage from Oklahoma to the Carolinas

	Tuscaloosa, Ala., tornado | Enlarge

• Massive outbreak of severe thunderstorms and estimated 305 tornadoes from the South into portions of the Midwest and Northeast. New estimates indicate total losses may top $9 billion!
• 327 fatalities combined in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia.
• A deadly EF4 tornado hit the Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Birmingham, Ala., metro areas.
• EF5 tornadoes struck Smithville, Miss., Philadelphia, Miss., Hackleburg-Phil Campbell, Ala., Dekalb County, Ala.
• See: Before and after damage images
• See: April 27 tornado photos
• Watch video: Deadly Tuscaloosa tornado

	Destruction in Joplin, Mo. (AP photo)

• Severe storms and an estimated 180 tornadoes hit a large swath of the country from the Midwest to the South and Northeast. Total losses over $7 billion.
• EF5 tornado demolishes Joplin, Mo., on May 22, resulting in 151 fatalities. An EF2 tornado killed one in Minneapolis on the same day.
• An EF5 tornado carved a 75-mile path across Oklahoma on May 24, including near El Reno, Piedmont and Guthrie. A total of 18 people lost their lives as a result of tornadoes that day in Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.
• See: Joplin damage photos | Oklahoma tornadoes
• See: Before and after Joplin damage images

	AP photo

• As of mid-August, 75% Texas rangeland and pasture conditions in "very poor" condition.
• Total direct losses to agriculture, cattle and structures are estimated well over $5 billion in Texas alone!
• Over 2,000 homes and structures lost to wildfires. Wildfire fighting/suppression costs about $1 million/day.
• See: Texas shocking drought stats

	River flooding in Memphis (Image credit: NASA) | Enlarge

• Current economic losses are estimated to be between $2 billion to $4 billion dollars.
• Preliminary breakdown: $500 million to agriculture in Arkansas, $320 million in damage to Memphis, Tenn., $800 million to agriculture in Mississippi, $317 million to agriculture and property in Missouri's Birds Point-New Madrid Spillway, $80 million for the first 30 days of flood-fighting efforts in Louisiana.
• The flooding was caused by heavy rains in April from northern Arkansas and southern Missouri to the Ohio Valley. This water all flowed downstream into the Mississippi River, resulting in record flooding.
• April was the wettest month on record in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee all finished with a top five wettest April.
• Flooding imagery: Photos | Before and after images

	River flooding in Minot, N.D. Image: AP

• Current economic losses are estimated to be exceeding $2 billion dollars.
• Highlights: Estimated 11,000 evacuated from Minot, N.D. where estimated 4,000 homes flooded. Numerous levees breached on Missouri River, flooding thousands of acres of farmland.
• The flooding was caused by melting of an above-average northern Rockies snowpack, and heavy spring and early summer rainfall.
• Top 10 wettest Jan - July in N. Dakota, S. Dakota, and Montana. Records date back to 1895.
• More content: Why it happened | Photos: Minot