The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) believes that 2011 will be a year that is remembered by its disasters. This year’s weather was the most extreme on record, at least financially, with 12 natural disasters causing $1 billion or more in damage each . That’s more billion-dollar catastrophes in one year than the U.S. saw in the entire decade of the 1980s, even if you factor in inflation. Outside the U.S., 2011 was equally disastrous. Japan faced an earthquake and tsunami of devastating proportions. New Zealand had a giant quake, the worst natural disaster in 80 years. Australia had a biblical flood while the worst drought in Africa in 60 years endangered millions of lives. Turkey’s quake was followed by an unusual cold, and Thailand in parts is still flooded.
And the disasters are taking a hefty body count with them — 646 people died in the U.S. from natural disasters this year. In addition to urging better government regulation, the NOAA advises that we all get a disaster plan, be it buying batteries or water or better understanding how the infrastructure around us works.
Here, we are questioning if the amount of natural disasters is actually increasing over time, or if we're developing better technology and media systems to monitor these events. Also, what kind of regulated system should we have for a response code dealing with natural disasters? Plus, who will provide this service, the government? It is something to consider, because more than likely this money will be coming from taxpayers.
Article Here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/was-2011-the-year-of-disasters/2011/12/08/gIQADnKzrO_blog.html
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