2011: Billion-dollar disaster year in US

The United States, the world's largest economy, has suffered damages costing at least US$50 billion in the year of 2011 in weather-related disasters. Recently, the US government confirmed that this summer was the second-hottest on record. There is growing evidence that at least some of the increase in temperatures and extreme weather can be pinned on human-induced climate change, and that what we are experiencing this year could well be considered "normal" in the near future. Here is a summary of disasters that have occurred so far in 2011. From January 29 to February 3, 2011 a large winter storm lashed many central, eastern and north-eastern states. The city of Chicago was brought to a virtual standstill, as between one and two feet of snow fell over the area. The estimated loss was greater than $1.8 billion and thirty-six people were confirmed dead. Beginning in early April about 46 tornadoes swept over central and southern states, causing over $2.0 billion insured losses and the total losses crossed $2.8 billion. Nine people died. Later, from April 8 to April 11, the next severe weather spawned an estimated 38 tornadoes, primarily in Iowa and Wisconsin, causing over $1.5 billion insured losses and the total losses amounted to more $2.2 billion along with numerous injuries. In mid-April, a major tornado outbreak followed in the southern US with an estimated 177 tornadoes, billing over $1.4 billion in insured losses and the total losses surpassed $2.1 billion. At least 38 people also died, 22 of them were in North Carolina. Again in late April historic outbreak of tornadoes destroyed most central and southern states with estimated losses of over $10.2 billion. In May, a significant severe weather between May 22 and 27 unbelievably an estimated 180 tornadoes struck causing 177 deaths. The total losses have been estimated to exceed $9.1 billion over central and southern states. Alongside the tornadoes, a long period of excessively dry conditions-drought, heat wave, and wildfires have left major impacts across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Arkansas and Louisiana. The total direct losses to agriculture, cattle and structures are over $10.0 billion. The early part of the summer, the United States experienced some of the worst floods in the upper-Midwest. Persistent rainfall as well as melting of snow packs caused apocalyptic flooding. The estimated economic losses range between $3.0 and 4.0 billion. Hurricane Irene, the ninth named storm, caused river erosion over eastern North Carolina's Outer Banks on August 27. Over seven million homes and businesses lost power during the storm. With current estimates, the economic losses from Irene in the US were over $7.3 billion. Last year, in COP 16, climate change conference, US President Barack Obama was unable to pass any significant climate change legislation despite scientific consensus on the severity and immediacy of the threat. A number of political commentators are turning their attention to the widely held Republican position that climate change is not for real, climate change is neither man-made nor a serious problem? Evidently, 2011 will be accepted as an evidence of climate change. Habib Torikul Dhaka E-mail: torikku0516@yahoo.com