According to the National Climatic Data Center, the USA in 2012 had 11 separate weather and climate disaster events each with losses exceeding $1 billion in damage.

This makes 2012 the second-costliest year since 1980. It had a total of more than $110 billion in damage throughout the year. Only 2005 was costlier, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. 2005 saw $160 billion in damages.

The 2012 events included seven severe weather/tornado events, two tropical storm/hurricane events, and the year-long drought and associated wildfires.

The two major drivers of damage costs in 2012 were Sandy (at approximately $65 billion) and the year-long drought at approximately $30 billion.

Sandy was also the nation’s deadliest disaster, as it caused over 130 fatalities, the climate center reported.

It was also the USA’s largest drought extent since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s, with drought disaster declarations reaching more than 2,600 of the nation’s 3,143 counties.

The year with the most billion-dollar disasters was 2011, when 14 separate events were recorded.

(Source: USA Today)