Extreme weather and natural disasters managed to sweep through the United States in 2021, causing many deaths and damages.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), hurricanes, tornados, floods, wildfires, etc., cost the U.S over $1 billion.
One of the most memorable weather catastrophes was the winter storm that caused major electricity outages in February 2021. Across America, many were left without power and forced to keep warm in extremely low temperatures.
Another storm was that of Hurricane Ida. It caused severe flooding in streets and power outages, striking the Gulf Coast. As a result, 47 people lost their lives. The hurricane was labeled a Category 4.
Rachel Cleetus, policy director and lead economist for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, observed that those in underprivileged communities are particularly affected by weather disasters. “The devastating toll and trauma imposed by extreme weather and climate disasters have, and continue to, hit some people harder than others with communities of color, low-income communities, and communities that have endured multiple disasters often bearing the brunt of its impacts.”
The site preventweb.net reports that those living in low-income neighborhoods are more likely to live in hazardous areas and less likely to be equipped to prevent disasters which ultimately pulls them into more poverty.
The NOAA claims 2021 had the “second-highest number of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters on record.” According to the agency, the number of deaths increased due to weather disasters as well by more than twice of the 262 from 2020.
Along with storms, 2021 managed to see record-breaking warm temperatures in its winter season. In December, temperatures were 6.7 degrees Fahrenheit above the average of what they should be.
According to France 24, overall, the year saw 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the normal for the 20th century.
