Significant Flood Events

Many experts are forecasting an increase in weather related disasters. The effects of global warming are becoming more obvious and changes in weather patterns may be related to this.
In the United States hurricanes are the most destructive weather related events. Major hurricanes usually result in major flood damage. The year 2005 was the worst year for flood damage in recent history. FEMA generally considers a significant flood event to be when 1,500 losses are paid in a single event. In 2005 FEMA rated 5 hurricane related events in the significant event category. An event with a billion dollars paid in FEMA flood claims would be considered as especially large.
FEMA flood losses paid for hurricane Katrina were in excess of 15 billion dollars. The actual damages were far greater because many homes and business did not have flood coverage. Total damages are estimated at over 80 billion dollars. In addition to economic damages more than 1,800 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in related floods. The effects of damage and impacted lives from this storm will linger for years.