Disaster Briefs, June 16 2024

PLUS: A deeper look at causes and consequences of severe flooding in Florida

Update: The H5N1 Monitor tracking the current epidemic of Avian Flu in the United States is under construction and will be launched soon. Click here to visit the site.

---

Global Disaster Briefs are your weekly (or more often, if needed) summaries and headlines from around the world about natural and man-made disasters, climate change, disease and health, and international conflict. See endnotes for resources used in putting this report together. Data is retrieved, analyzed and summarized on the day of publication unless otherwise noted.

---

Meteorological/Climatological

Florida:

Severe flooding last week dumped between 12 — 28” of rain in areas of south Florida, trapping residents in their homes and cars despite earlier forecasts warning of the record-breaking deluge.

On average, Florida receives 54” of rainfall each year, though that figure varies greatly by geography, season, and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase. Currently, we are in an ENSO neutral phase trending toward La Nina, which historically brings bigger hurricanes but less rainfall overall for the US Southeast.

Just prior to the heavy rains last week, south Florida was experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. Drought conditions preceding heavy rains can increase flooding due to the hardened soils being less able to absorb water. My own research studying coastal land loss and hurricane impacts showed a strong link between summer heat and drought conditions and hurricane-induced land loss.

Florida continues to suffer the brunt of some of the most extreme (and expensive) impacts of climate change — increases in the frequency and intensity of severe weather, including hurricanes, as well as sea level rise, wildfires, and drought (among other impacts).

If you’ve suffered damages to your home or vehicle as a result of flooding in South Florida, you can click here to file a claim.

---