Changing the American Climate of
Climate Change Together

Climate Change is Worsening Climate Disasters

Marking the 6th costliest year in recorded US history, American communities lost $92.8 billion worth of homes, businesses, and other damaged infrastructure with 28 billion-dollar climate and natural disasters in 2023.

Maui Wildfires

Location: Lahaina, Hawaii

Date: August 8-11, 2023
Deaths: 101
Economic Impact: $5.5 billion+

The deadliest wildfire in over a century destroyed mainly homes as it burned over 2,000 buildings. As the fire reached the town and began burning out cars, it forced people to jump into the rough waves killing one. More than 2 of 3 victims were above 60 years old with the youngest victim being 7 years old.

Historic Tornado Super Outbreak

Location: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania

Date: March 31-April 1, 2023
Deaths: 33
Economic Impact: $5.7 billion

Nearly 1 in 10 Americans were under a tornado watch with more than 145 tornados hitting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. This marked the 2nd most tornados in 24 hours in recorded U.S. history. In Munford, Tennessee, at 4:28 PM, shortly after school had let out, one of these tornados struck Mumford Middle and Mumford Elementary schools significantly damaging the elementary school's gymnasium and walls and continued to damage over 500 other buildings in Tipton County, TN.

Drought and Heatwave

Location: Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska

Date: April 1-September 30, 2023
Deaths: 247
Economic Impact: $14.5 billion

For the past 3 consecutive years, Texas has broken its record for most annual heat deaths. While delivering the mail in Dallas, TX for the USPS in June 2023, Eugene Gates Jr., who had worked for the USPS for 36 years, collapsed on the lawn on his route and passed away from the extreme heat with a heat index of 115°F. Impacting the at-risk younger population as well, the extreme heat killed a 5-day-old in Irving and a 6-month-old in Dallas.