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No. of Events
1000
500
250
Incidence of natural hazards by region 1975-2001 (based on CRED, 2002).
Fig. 1.1
Frequency of natural hazards during the twentieth
century. Tsunami data comes from the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (2003). Tornado statistics for
the USA are for the 1990-1995 period only and derived
from the High Plains Regional Climate Center (2003). All
other data based on WHO (2002).
Cost of natural hazards, summarized by type of hazard
for the 100 biggest events, 1900-2001 (based on
WHO, 2002).
Table 1.1
Table 1.2
Type
Cost
Earthquake
$248,624,900,000
Flood
$206,639,800,000
Tropical storm
$80,077,700,000
Type of Hazard
No of Events
Tornadoes (US) 1
Wind Storm
$43,890,000,000
9476
Wild Fire
$20,212,800,000
Flood
2389
Drought
$16,800,000,000
Tropical Cyclone
1337
Cold wave
$9,555,000,000
Tsunami
986
Heat wave
$5,450,000,000
Earthquake
899
Total
$631,250,200,000
Wind (other)
793
Drought
782
Landslide
448
ranking only fifth in occurrence, have been the costli-
est hazard ($US249 billion), followed by floods
($US207 billion), tropical storms ($US80 billion), and
windstorms ($US44 billion). In total, the hundred most
expensive natural disasters of the twentieth century
caused $US631 billion damage. The single largest
event was the Kobe earthquake of 20 January 1995,
which cost $US131.5 billion. While this event is
familiar, the second most expensive disaster of the
twentieth century - floods in the European part of
the former Soviet Union on 27 April 1991 costing
$US60 billion - is virtually unknown.
Figure 1.2 presents the number of hazards reported
each year over the twentieth century. Apparently,
natural hazards have increased in frequency over this
Wild fire
269
Extreme temperature
259
Temperate winter storm
240
Volcano
168
Tornadoes (non-US)
84
Famine
77
Storm surge
18
1 for F2-F5 tornadoes 1950-1995
The economic relevance of the biggest hundred of
these hazard events is summarized over the same
period in Table 1.2. Values are reported in US dollars
and do not include inflation. Earthquakes, while
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