Losses from hurricanes especially in Florida have increased as the population grows.
1. Review the maps and charts under Tracking Losses to show the deadliest and costliest hurricanes. The last chart represents how population growth affects loss from disasters.
2. Read about how Florida Hurricanes have taken a toll on people and insurance costs.
3. Take notes on Projecting Costs on how the Florida population is growing and how insurance companies could anticipate the future costs of hurricanes.
Chart of Losses Bar chart comparing economic losses versus injured losses per 1990 dollars. Since the 1960s, economic losses from natural disasters have tripled, while insured losses have quintupled.
Plot of Cumulative Loss Plot of cumulative frequency of dollar loss due to earthquakes and hurricanes in the U.S. between 1900 and 1989. Data presented in this manner show trends that could provide the probability of forecasting future dollar loss.
Frequency of Florida Hurricanes The frequency of Florida hurricanes with wind speeds greater than or equal to 100 knots is mapped in terms of the probability of occurrence during a 20 year exposure window. These estimates, based on 106 years of observations, illustrate that hurricanes with 100 knot winds occur more frequently in southern Florida, and gradually decrease in frequency towards northern Florida. Definition of Knots at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_(speed)
Toll of Four Hurricanes Four storms in two months devastated Florida. This article from FloridaToday provides statistics on loss of life, costs, power outages, and much more.
Hurricane Models Insurance companies could better anticipate their annual costs in hurricane claims if they used more accurate models of storm winds and the severity of damage they will likely cause.
