Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: Impact ... - Aon

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AnnuAl GlobAl Cli mAte And C AtAstroph e r e port February • historic bushfire event hits parts of Victoria in Australia • powerful snowstorm affects the united Kingdom • multiple winter storms traverse the united states Heavy rains starting January 24th triggered flooding in parts of Brazil and Peru during the week of the 2nd. At least 14 people were killed in the city of Pelotas, Brazil. According to national emergency coordinators, significant flood damage occurred to residential areas and transportation infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul state. In Peru, at least four people were killed in floodwaters. A combination of landslides and flash flooding destroyed two homes and severely damaged several roads and highways in the provinces of Celedín, Jaén, San Ignacio and Santa Cruz. Heavy rains beginning on January 8th that lasted until February 12th in the northern and northwestern sections of the Dominican Republic killed at least seven people. Major structural damage was reported to thousands of homes as total losses were listed at US$52 million. Damage was also reported to bridges and roads in the provinces of Puerto Plata and Espaillat. Flooding that began in January continued through February in queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, killing at least nine people. Floodwaters finally began to recede in northern sections of queensland on the 17th. The town of Ingham reported at least 2,900 homes with significant flood damage. Coastal locations along the Gulf of Carpentaria endured nearly two months of flooding. At one point, over 62 percent of queensland was underwater. According to state government officials, total flood damages exceeded US$140 million, of which US$17.5 million were insured losses. In New South Wales, heavy rains fell on the 14th, forcing at least six council areas to be declared natural disaster areas. Damage to the transportation infrastructure was estimated at US$3.9 million. Heavy rains and flooding occurred in Western Australia from the 16th to the 19th, with some locations reporting over 25 centimeters (ten inches) of rain. A snowstorm affected parts of the United Kingdom and Europe between the 2nd and the 5th, killing at least six people. Forecasters called the system the largest snowstorm in over 18 years. According to Britain’s Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), at least US$4.3 billion in lost economic productivity occurred. On the 2nd, snow totals of ten to 25 centimeters (four to ten inches) were reported from London northward into Scotland and Wales, where two people died. In London, all five of the region’s major airports were temporarily closed. On the 3rd, heavy snow fell again throughout Britain, with some locations receiving an additional 30 centimeters (one foot) of snow. The FSB reported that nearly five million people did not report to work on the 3rd after 6.4 million people failed to show up to work the day before. Another round of heavy snow occurred on the 5th. At least 20 centimeters (eight inches) of snow fell across parts of Gloucestershire, the Midlands and central Wales. In France, flights were cancelled at Paris’ Charles de Gualle Airport. In Belgium, highway officials reported 400 kilometers (250 miles) of traffic jams on the 2nd around Brussels. As the system entered Italy, heavy rains and gusty winds occurred in the cities of Lecco and Sicily, killing three people. In Switzerland, 20 centimeters (eight inches) of snow fell. In Spain, two tornadoes were reported. Winds gusted to 180 kph (115 mph) in Málaga, which left widespread damage to an unknown number of homes and other structures. At least 25 people were injured. The worst drought since 1951 forced China to declare an emergency in eight northern and central provinces on the 5th. The lack of rainfall in Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces devastated 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of crops. Economic losses from the drought eclipsed US$234 million in Anhui Province alone. Some areas of China went over 125 consecutive days without any measurable rainfall. 2 4
Aon b e n field: i m pAC t foreC AstinG One of the deadliest bushfire events in Australia’s history occurred between the 7th and 20th. More than 3,000 firemen struggled with the blazes as record temperatures soared above 46°C (116°F) and winds gusted to 100 kph (65 mph). An estimated 400 fires burned nearly 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land across the state. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, at least 10,040 claims totaled an estimated US$985 million in losses. The deadliest blaze, the Kinglake Complex Fire in the Gippsland area, killed at least 196 people after the fire burned over 220,000 hectares (543,600 acres) and destroyed at least 1,500 homes in the greater Kinglake area. The town of Narbethong reported that 95 percent of its homes were destroyed, while the town of Marysville was almost completely destroyed. An additional 334 homes were destroyed in other blazes. At least 60 wildfires burned in New South Wales. Heavy rains triggered numerous landslides and mudslides across portions of Argentina and Bolivia between the 9th and the 17th, killing at least two people and injuring 300 more. Rains on the 9th triggered a massive landslide from the western Andes Mountains into the city of Tartagal. At least 4,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving at least 10,000 people homeless. The landslide washed away a 50-meter (164-foot) railroad bridge and a secondary bridge, bringing 1.5 meters (five feet) of water and mud from the Tartagal River to the Santa Maria and Barrio Saavedra neighborhoods. In Bolivia, at least 300 people were injured as heavy rains triggered a mudslide in the city of La Paz on the 17th. A total of 50 homes were destroyed over a four-hectare (ten-acre) area. Windstorm quinten affected parts of Europe on the 9th and 10th, bringing gusty winds, heavy rain and snow. The storm system came ashore through southern England and northern France on the 9th. quinten brought heavy rains across southern sections of Britain, while winds gusting to 140 kph (85 mph) downed trees and power lines that knocked out electricity to over 600,000 residents in France. As the storm advanced into Germany, winds and heavy snowfall caused five injuries and significant property damage. In Switzerland, at least 3,000 insurance claims were filed in Zurich, Bern, Aargau and Luzerne. Total insured losses were estimated at US$2.6 million. Severe weather occurred in the U.S. southern Plains on the 10th, killing at least eight people and injuring over 50 others. Additional severe weather struck the Ohio and Tennessee valleys as the storm system advanced during the week, killing at least five others. Nearly 300,000 insurance claims totaled nearly US$1.2 billion. At least 11 tornadoes were reported on the 10th, four of which were outside of Oklahoma City. An EF2 tornado touched down in Edmund, causing roof damage to multiple homes, apartment complexes and businesses. At least six homes were completely destroyed and three people were injured. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak, an EF4 tornado in Lone Grove, killed eight people and damaged or destroyed two trailer parks as well as dozens of homes and businesses. Damage and power outages were also reported in Texas, as winds gusting to 88 mph (175 kph) and baseball-sized hail damaged homes and businesses. In Colleyville, an EF1 tornado damaged five homes, while winds tore off the roof at a medical services building in Greenville. As the storm system entered the Ohio and Tennessee valleys between the 11th through the 13th, severe weather developed across parts of Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Georgia. One person was killed in West virginia after a school gymnasium collapsed. Many states reported downed trees and power lines. Winter weather affected California on the 14th and 15th. Several feet of snow fell across the Sierra Nevadas while multiple inches of rain fell on lower elevations of the state. At least 20 homes were damaged in a burn area in yorba Linda after a mudslide flowed over protective sandbags. 25
Page 1 and 2: ANNUAL GLOBAL CLIMATE AND CATASTROP
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents ExECUTIvE SUMMARy
Page 5 and 6: Aon b e n field: i m pAC t foreC As
Page 7 and 8: 2009 Climate Review Aon b e n field
Page 9 and 10: 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season Revi
Page 11 and 12: 2009 Western Pacific Typhoon Season
Page 13 and 14: 2009 United States Tornado Season R
Page 15 and 16: 2010 Climate and Atlantic Hurricane
Page 19 and 20: Figure 20: 2007 Forecast forecast p
Page 21 and 22: 2009 Monthly Catastrophe Review Jan
Page 23: Aon b e n field: i m pAC t foreC As
Page 27 and 28: March Aon b e n field: i m pAC t fo
Page 33 and 34: May • tropical Cyclone Aila destr
Page 37 and 38: June Aon b e n field: i m pAC t for
Page 43 and 44: August Aon b e n field: i m pAC t f
Page 49 and 50: October • four separate typhoons
Page 51 and 52: November • historic rainfall trig
Page 53 and 54: December • first major winter sto
Page 55 and 56: Appendix A: Catastrophe Recap Table
Page 57 and 58: United States (Continued) event dat
Page 59 and 60: Africa event date event name or typ
Page 61 and 62: Asia (Continued) event date event n
Page 63 and 64: Oceania (Australia, New Guinea, New
Page 65 and 66: Eastern Pacific Ocean Basin (ENSO)
Page 67 and 68: Copyright © by Impact Forecasting

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