In the first nine months of 2021, there were eighteen weather and climate disasters costing more than $1 billion each, according to a report from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. This was a record-high number of severe events.
CoreLogic, a property information analytics and data provider, recently released a report highlighting the cities most at risk of damage from severe storms. Across the United States, almost 8 million homes are at risk of damage from hurricane storms. And the news wasn't good for the residents of New Orleans. New Orleans is the 4th most climate-endangered city in the United States.
The report found that almost 400,000 single-family homes are at risk of damage from storm surges in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The predicted cost of this damage is over 100 billion dollars.
In addition to damage from storm surges, the report also outlines the risk of homes being damaged from hurricane winds. In New Orleans, over 420,000 homes are at risk for hurricane winds, with the potential to cause 107 billion dollars in damage.
In 2020, three major storms hit the Louisiana coast back-to-back, and hurricanes Laura and Delta made landfall just 15 miles apart in less than six weeks, devastating homes in Southern Louisiana.
Despite the increase in hurricanes and storms, there isn't much being done to reduce the chance of future hurricanes.
The 2017, 4th (U.S.) National Climate Assessment notes, “neither global efforts to mitigate the causes of climate change nor regional efforts to adapt to the impacts currently approach the scales needed to avoid substantial damages to the U.S. economy, environment, and human health and well-being over the coming decades.”
How to best prepare for future storms
So what can the people of New Orleans do best to prepare for future storms? Below are a few tips.
1. Keep your trees trimmed. This will prevent them from falling over when a storm hits.
2. Have a backup generator in place.
3. Prepare an evacuation plan- and remember to include your pets in this!
4. Have extra supplies of water, gas, clothing, blankets, and batteries on hand.
5. Check the weather and listen to the advice of experts.
The City of New Orleans provides additional safety information and tips here.
Readers, what tips do you have for people in New Orleans to prepare their properties and reduce their risk of severe storm damage?
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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