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

AnnuAl GlobAl Cli mAte And C AtAstroph e r e port
Record heat affected more than a dozen Indian states between the 19th and 30th, killing at least 41 people. In
New Delhi, the city recorded the highest April temperature in over 50 years of 43.5°C (110°F) on the 29th. The
hottest recorded temperature was 47.5°C (118°F) in the town of Khandua. Power outages were reported across
the country as electric companies struggled to keep up with demand.
Flooding rains inundated parts of Afghanistan between the April 20th and May 1st, killing at least 20 people
and injuring dozens more. At least 25,000 homes were affected with total economic losses estimated at US$20
million.
Wildfires burned portions of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina between the 22nd and the 27th, destroying
at least 70 homes and damaging 100 others. According to state insurance officials, losses exceeded US$25
million. The fires scorched over 20,000 acres (8,093 hectares) of land. Most of the destroyed homes came at
the Barefoot Resort. At least 27 homes were destroyed, and dozens more homes sustained siding damage.
At least seven people were killed and dozens more were injured between the 24th and 30th from severe
weather and heavy snow across the United States and Canada. According to various insurers, at least 55,000
claims were reported with insured losses exceeding US$275 million. On the 24th, large hail and damaging
winds were reported in Wisconsin, Iowa and extreme southeastern Minnesota. On the 25th, severe storms
pushed into northern Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, knocking out electricity to over 145,000 homes. Damaging
wind, large hail and a few tornadoes also occurred in southern Ontario. An EF0 tornado touched down just
outside Ottawa, damaging dozens of homes, apartments and structures. At Rockliffe Airport, at least 22 small
airplanes were either damaged or destroyed. A second EF0 tornado in Windsor damaged a local government
union building. At Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, the official weather reporting station recorded a 75
mph (115 kph) wind gust, the highest wind recording in over 30 years for that station. Over 100,000 homes
lost electricity throughout the province. On the 25th, severe weather formed in the central and southern Plains.
Several homes and outbuildings were destroyed in Reno Township near Interstate 70 in Missouri. In Kansas,
one person was killed after being struck by lightning. By the 26th, tornadoes touched down in parts of Kansas,
Oklahoma and Iowa. Wichita, Kansas, Ellis County, Oklahoma and Linn County, Iowa all reported significant
damage to dozens of homes and buildings. On the 27th, additional tornadoes occurred in Texas. In Williamson
County, an EF1 tornado damaged over 20 buildings, while another EF1 tornado damaged ten buildings in
the town of Corsicana. On the 28th, heavy rains in Harris County triggered flash flooding and the closure of
a section of Interstate 10. By the 29th into the 30th, additional tornadoes were reported in the central and
southern Plains. In Oklahoma, a state of emergency was declared for at least nine counties due to excessive
tornado damage and flooding. Flooding concerns were also raised in Kansas, as the Neosho, verdigris, Walnut
and Arkansas rivers were at or above flood stage. At least five people drowned across the state. A separate
storm system in the Pacific Northwest dumped up to four feet (120 centimeters) of snow across parts of
Montana. Two people died, a 75-mile (120-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 15 was closed between Great Falls
and Shelby and the town of Great Falls set an all-time three-day record of 25.4 inches (65 centimeters) of snow.
Heavy rains in New Zealand triggered flooding between the 27th and the 29th, damaging dozens of homes and
businesses. Heavy rains caused flood damage in the city of Greymouth. Local authorities reported that dozens
of homes and businesses were damaged throughout the city as roofs collapsed. According to New Zealand
Insurance Council officials, residents in flood-damaged homes were not allowed home for two to five weeks.
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