The Indicator from Planet Money An indicator lost: big disaster costs
44 snips
Jun 4, 2025 Discover the economic toll of billion-dollar natural disasters in the U.S. as the government retires a crucial database that helped local authorities with disaster planning. Hear a climatologist share personal stories of weather events that shaped communities. Explore the complexities of economic impacts tied to climate change and the challenges of documenting non-market losses, like health effects from wildfires. Uncover the emotional struggles within NOAA as they face budget cuts and seek new ways to analyze disaster data.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Storm Influences Career
- Adam Smith vividly remembers Hurricane Hugo from his childhood in North Carolina.
- The storm's impact shaped his lifelong interest in climate and weather disasters.
Expanding Disaster Data Access
- The billion-dollar disaster database expanded to include interactive tools and data from many sources.
- This made disaster cost data accessible and useful for diverse public and private users.
Use Data for Practical Decisions
- Use disaster cost data to make decisions about moving, investing, and community planning.
- Present data in human-centered ways to illustrate impacts beyond just numbers.