STORMY WEATHER

What country can claim to have the worst weather?

That redoubtable distinction goes to the United States of America. Subjected to hurricanes, flooding, drought, heat and cold waves, blizzards, and the worst tornado activity on the planet, the United States experiences more weather disasters than any other nation.

How much have disasters cost in recent years to the United States in terms of money and deaths?

Since 1990, natural disasters have cost the United States about $540 billion and nearly 5,000 lives. This period of history unfortunately includes the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster, which is responsible for 1,833 deaths and almost $134 billion in damages just by itself. More typically, annual damages inflicted on American soil average about $18 billion annually. This includes damages caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, blizzards and ice storms, heat waves, wildfires, and other severe conditions. The table below breaks this down by year.

Costs of U.S. Weather Disasters, 1990-2008

* Costs are in 2008 U.S. dollars, adjusted for inflation. ** Includes Hurricane Katrina.

What is emergency response planning?

Most disasters in the United States (about 85 percent) occur because of the weather, with the rest due to such geologic events as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, or acts of terrorism. In an effort to minimize the costs of such tragedies, a system connecting federal, state, and local agencies has been established to issue weather warnings, plan evacuation routes, and coordinate relief efforts. Community awareness programs, building code enforcement, and computer modeling are all employed in this effort, with meteorologists naturally playing a key role.

How have weather-related forest fires created tragic disasters in the United States?

Dry, hot conditions and lightning have caused some of the most devastating forest fires in the United States. For example, on September 1, 1894, a heat wave in the Midwest led to a forest fire near Hinkley, Minnesota, where 400 people consequently lost their lives; and on October 8, 1871, the so-called Peshtigo fire killed 1,800 people in Michigan and Wisconsin. Northern climes are particularly vulnerable to forest fires caused by the weather. During Alaska's mild, dry summers, for instance, the state experiences a dramatic rise in forest fires.

How do some animals appear to be able to predict an oncoming storm?

There is a considerable amount of folklore and old wives tales about how to predict the weather based on animal behavior. On the other hand, there do, in fact, seem to be ways one can tell if a storm is approaching, just by observing animals. Biologists and other scientists, as well as other people who work with animals daily, have noted some truth to the following:

• Geese tend not to fly when a storm is nearing. One explanation for this is that air pressure drops when foul weather approaches, and it might be harder for some larger birds, such as Canada geese, to get off the ground in such conditions. More likely, though, is that the birds instinctively understand that lower air pressure is a good indication of an upcoming storm.

• Seagulls and other ocean birds also tend to remain grounded before bad weather ensues.

• Many farmers believe that cows stay away from hilltops and remain close together in herds. Similar behavior has also been observed among deer and elk.

• Because frogs like it moist and humid, which tends to be the case during and just before stormy weather, they remain out of the water for longer periods of time. You can tell because they are croaking and ribbiting a lot more before it rains.

• Mosquitoes and biting black flies tend to bite and suck blood with much more ferocity and urgency before bad weather, perhaps saving up so they don't go hungry while they seek shelter from the storm.