Rebuild By Design: Atlas Of Disaster Finds Climate-Related Extreme Weather Caused Over $630 Million In Disaster Damage In PA From 2011 to 2021; Doesn't Include Damage Not Covered By Federal Programs

Rebuild By Design released an updated Atlas of Disaster showing 90 percent of U.S. counties have experienced a federal climate disaster between 2011-2021, with some having as many as 12 disasters during that time. 

In 2021 alone, the U.S. experienced 20 separate billion-dollar climate disasters with over 688 direct or indirect fatalities. 

Pennsylvania

From 2011 to 2021 Pennsylvania had 9 climate disaster declarations with six counties having fire or more disasters.  

Northampton and Sullivan counties had the highest number of disaster occurrences and 57 out of 67 counties had a recent disaster..

Damages totaled $630 million Federal Emergency Management Agency and Housing and Urban Development post-disaster funding.

Bradford County received the highest post-disaster federal funding in the state- $30 million.

The Atlas identifies counties in Pennsylvania with the highest risks of climate hazards, risk to power outages and social vulnerability.

Click Here to review the information for Pennsylvania.

[Note: The information in this report does not include the portion of disasters not covered by federal assistance.  PEMA estimated that in 2018 alone $101.5 million in flood damage was not covered by federal programs in 2018.  Read more here.]

About Rebuild By Design

As the world faces rising populations, mass migration, climate change, social injustices, and economic challenges, communities can’t afford to wait until after the next crisis to plan for the future. 

Through regional competitions, local engagements, research and policy, Rebuild by Design is reimagining the way communities find solutions for today’s large-scale, complex problems by creating collaborations across communities and governments.

Rebuild convenes global expertise, with regional leadership, and community stakeholders to gain a better understanding of how overlapping environmental and human-made vulnerabilities leave communities at risk.

Rebuild’s core belief is that through collaboration our communities can grow stronger and better prepared to stand up to whatever challenges tomorrow brings.

(Maps: Number of Disaster Events, Post-Disaster Federal Assistance.)

NewsClips:

-- Williamsport Sun: Climate Disasters Cost Pennsylvania $630 Million Over 10 Years

-- Post-Gazette/Bloomberg: Climate Change And Homeowners’ Insurance On A Collision Course

Related Articles:

-- Gov. Wolf: 2021 Climate Impacts Report Projects Pennsylvania Will Be 5.9° F Warmer by Midcentury, Precipitation To Increase, Targets Areas to Reduce Risk  [PaEN]

-- Auditor General DePasquale: State’s Unfocused Efforts On Climate Change Crisis Risks Lives, Cost Taxpayers $261 Million In 2018 Alone   [PaEN]

-- PEMA: Over $101.5 Million In Flood Damage Not Covered By Feds In 2018; Intense Flooding Events Increasing In PA  [PaEN]

-- First Street Foundation Releases New Tool Showing Mid-Atlantic States Will See Wind Gusts In Storms Increase 37 MPH, Wind Damage To Property Increase Over 50% In Next 30 Years    [PaEN]

[Posted: June 7, 2023]  PA Environment Digest