The Media Hype Extreme Weather—But Data Tells A Different Tale
Why we’re safer from climate disasters than ever before.
by Michelle Arledge, guest post May 14, 2025, 11:45 AM
These days, stories of extreme weather are everywhere you look. But a crucial detail often goes overlooked: We’re safer from the consequences of that weather than ever before. [emphasis, links added]
There was a time when extreme weather events that led to massive fatalities were depressingly common in the U.S.
In the last 85 years, however, there have only been three such events that took over 1,000 lives: Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Maria, and a 1980 heatwave.
We’re Safer from Climate Disasters Than Ever Before
There’s a reason for that.
The most important factor in determining a natural disaster’s destructiveness isn’t its intensity, but how well people in its path are protected. And on that front, things have improved … a lot.
https://climatechangedispatch.com/the-media-hype-extreme-weather-but-data-tells-a-different-tale/
