Why mobile homes get hit hard by extreme weather and how to build better
They are regularly swept away in floods, including this month in Central Texas and New Mexico. They are often hit hard by hurricanes and destroyed by wildfires.
That's partly because parks designed for mobile homes, recreational vehicles and manufactured housing are typically located on less expensive land that is at higher risk for hazards. It's also partly a result of how older mobile homes were built.
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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Billion-dollar disasters: The economic toll of wildfires, severe storms and earthquakes is soaring
Weather disasters in the first half of this year have cost the United States $93 billion in damage, according to a report released Tuesday by a German multinational insurance company. The analysis by Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, found that more than 70% of all damage globally from weather disasters so far this year occurred in the U.S., with uninsured Americans and their local governments experiencing a whopping $22 billion in damage. The report shows the soaring economic toll that wildfires, severe storms and other extreme events are exacting in the U.S. and globally. The findings also highlight the growing insurance crisis playing out in parts of the country that are prone to frequent weather disasters. 'We have seen some 90% of all losses for the insurance industry — so 72 out of 80 billion U.S. dollars — have happened in the U.S.,' said Tobias Grimm, Munich Re's chief climate scientist. 'That's extraordinary.' The devastating wildfires in Southern California in January topped the list of the country's costliest disasters in the first half of 2025. The two largest fires, which killed at least 30 people and displaced thousands more, ripped through the communities in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, fanned by strong Santa Ana winds. Munich Re estimated that the wildfires caused $53 billion in losses, including about $13 billion in damages for residents without insurance. The reinsurer said the Los Angeles-area blazes resulted in the 'highest wildfire losses of all time.' The wildfires' huge economic and societal toll was due in part to increased development in fire-prone areas. 'Losses are on the rise because often properties are in harm's way,' Grimm said. 'People still live in high-risk areas.' Urban development in hazard-prone areas can similarly drive up the cost of other weather-related disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Studies have shown that climate change is making wildfires more frequent because of warmer temperatures and worsening drought conditions. Blazes are also becoming more intense, as a result. A report released in late January from the World Weather Attribution group found that the hot, dry and windy conditions that helped the fires consume large swaths of Southern California were about 35% more likely because of human-caused global warming. Munich Re's own earnings have been affected by the L.A. wildfires, as was reported by CNBC. Profits were down a total of $1.9 billion for Munich Re and Hannover Re (another German reinsurer), according to their first-quarter earnings reports. Other major disasters in the U.S. so far included severe storms in March that caused $6.7 billion in damage, a series of tornadoes in May that caused about $5 billion in losses, and severe storms and flooding in April that caused $4 billion in damage. Overall, 'severe convective storms' — ones that produce excessive rainfall, strong winds, tornadoes or large hail — caused $34 billion in damage in the U.S. from January through June, according to Munich Re. Of that, $8 billion were uninsured losses, the company found, which included damage to roads and public schools. Outside of the U.S., a tropical cyclone that hit Australia in late February dumped heavy rain over parts of Queensland and New South Wales, causing an estimated $3.5 billion in damage. Internationally, the costliest disaster so far this year wasn't climate-related: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar in late March. An estimated 4,500 people died after the quake rattled the cities of Sagaing and Mandalay and surrounding areas. And a magnitude-6 earthquake that struck Taiwan in January caused $1.3 billion in losses, according to Munich Re. The insurance company's report comes months after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it would stop tracking the economic toll of the United States' costliest extreme weather events. The elimination of NOAA's 'Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters' yearly reports was seen by critics as yet another way that the Trump administration has cut back or eliminated climate science at federal agencies. A NOAA spokesperson previously told NBC News that the decision to discontinue the database was made 'in alignment with evolving priorities and staffing changes.' Grimm said it's 'vital' to collaborate with NOAA and other government agencies to ensure that these types of reports contain accurate data. The resulting analyses can, for instance, be used by insurance companies and government officials to shape policies, and they are particularly important as billion-dollar disasters become more frequent. 'The probability of extreme weather is changing,' Grimm said, 'so we need to adapt and, of course, to mitigate future losses.' This article was originally published on
CBS News
13 hours ago
- CBS News
Heat advisory in place today for the Pittsburgh area
A heat advisory in place today for the Pittsburgh area with temperatures expected to reach the 90s with heat indexes in the 100s. Any Alert Days Ahead? Due to the Heat Advisory issued by the NWS we have made today a First Alert Weather Day. Could potentially have another one in place Wednesday. Aware: From June 1 through July 27th, we have spent the 4th most time on record with temperatures at or above 75°. This has been a hot summer. No matter how you look at it, this summer has been a hot one. Data continues to show what we already know. The one I pulled yesterday was just how long we have seen temperatures at or above 75 degrees so far this 'summer'. For the stats, I pulled data from June 1 through this past Sunday, July 27th. Data shows that we stand at number 4 on the list of 'hottest' based on this, with a total of 658 hours spent at or above 75°. Last year, over the same span, we spent 706 total hours at or above 75°. For people who don't have a/c units, 75° is a good cutoff when it comes to the body's ability to cool down and recover from hot weather. It is also a good way of looking at how humid it has been over long stretches, with warmer temperatures happening when humidity levels are higher. Highs today should hit the low 90s. There is a heat advisory in place for Pittsburgh and surrounding areas through 8 this evening. Heat index values should hit triple digits. A heat advisory is issued for our area when the heat index value is expected to be between 100° - 105°. That's the case for today. We may also have a heat advisory issued on Wednesday with a set-up similar to today. I have Wednesday's high temperature also hitting the low 90s with high humidity levels. Interestingly, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has us in a marginal risk for storms on Wednesday. Relief from the heat comes on Thursday with a cool front passing us by. Most of Thursday will still be humid, but I have highs not hitting the 80s. That to me may change. I am actually surprised that data shows us just in the 70s for the day. I have almost bumped up temperatures already, but will wait another day before bumping those highs up. To me, we should still have a hot airmass in places through at least noon. We will see more cloud cover, but it shouldn't take much to see highs in the 80s ahead of afternoon rain. Rain and storms will be strong and maybe severe as the cold front sweeps through. Behind the front, we will see more comfy air in place with highs in the upper 70s both Friday and Saturday. Low humidity values will make it comfy through at least next Tuesday. WEATHER LINKS: Current Conditions | School Closings & Delays | Submit Your Weather Photos
CBS News
14 hours ago
- CBS News
Cooling begins Tuesday in Minnesota ahead of quiet stretch
Minnesota is headed for a much-needed break from the intense heat and humidity. Expect highs in the lower 80s on Tuesday with moderate dew points, which will drop by night. Then, winds turn breezy from the northwest, helping usher in cooler, drier air. Some wildfire smoke may also mix in, especially up north. An air quality alert is in effect for the northern half of the state through 11 p.m. on Wednesday. A few isolated showers or weak storms are possible later on, mainly in southern Minnesota during the afternoon and overnight hours. A quiet, pleasant stretch begins midweek, with sunshine and highs in the upper 70s through Friday.
