Global costs of weather-related disasters have increased from an annual average U.S.$8.9 billion (1977-1986) to U.S.$45.1 billion (1997-2006). In coming decades, the number of people at risk from extremes will very likely grow, and extreme weather will likely increase (1). To date, societal change and economic development are mainly responsible for increasing losses. After adjusting for societal changes, loss time series reflect the climatological record (2).
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