Navigating the Storm: Convective Storms, Mitigation, and Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
The Growing Threat of Convective Storms
Severe convective storms—tornadoes, hail, drenching thunderstorms with lightning, and damaging straight-line winds—are among the biggest threats to life and property in the United States. They were the costliest natural catastrophes for insurers in 2019, and this year’s tornado season is already shaping up to be the worst in nearly a decade.
Mitigation and Resilience Strategies
A new Triple-I paper describes how population growth, economic development, and possible changes in the geography, frequency, and intensity of these storms contribute to significant insurance payouts. It also examines how insurers, risk managers, individuals, and communities are responding to mitigate the risks and improve resilience through:
- Improved forecasting
- Better building standards
- Early damage detection and remediation
- Increased risk sharing through wind and hail deductibles and parametric insurance offerings
The Impact of COVID-19 on Emergency Response
The 2020 tornado season coincided with most of the U.S. economy shutting down over the coronavirus pandemic. This could affect emergency response and resilience now and going into the 2020 hurricane season, which already is being forecast as “above normal” in terms of the number of anticipated named storms.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active on record, with 30 named storms. This is a stark contrast to the 1980s, when the average number of named storms per season was 12.5.
To prepare for the upcoming storm seasons, it is crucial for individuals and communities to stay informed about weather forecasts, ensure their insurance policies are up-to-date, and have an emergency plan in place. Additionally, investing in resilient infrastructure and participating in community resilience programs can help mitigate the impact of severe weather events.