Annual Disaster/Death Statistics for US Storms

1. Tornadoes

The United States averages about 1000 recorded tornadoes

every year. (www.tornadoproject.com) Annually tornadoes cause an average of 1,500 injuries

(www.nssl.noaa.qgov) On average, 80 deaths each year are directly attributed to the 1000 tornadoes reported (www.nssl.noaa.gov)

2. Thunderstorms

Number of thunderstorms occurring in the United States a year: 100,000 (www.naturalhazards.orq) Injuries: i. 1,700 injuries per year due to flash floods ii. lightning injures 300 people in the U.S. each year (www.pathnet.org) Deaths: i. floods from thunderstorms have accounted for about 70 deaths per year ii. lightning has caused an average of 55 fatalities per year iii. thunderstorm winds cause an average of 31 deaths per year iv. hail causes an average of one (www.qgweather.com)

3. Hurricanes

A total of ten tropical cyclones reaching storm strength with six of these becoming hurricanes and two of those actually striking the coast of the U.S. ( www.aoml.noaa.gov) Injuries:

i. hurricanes cause 60 injuries per year Nationwide, hurricanes annually account for an average of 17

deaths (www.loep.state.la.us)

4. Shelters

Since 1980, approximately 20,000-30,000 shelters have been built ( exact count unavailable: Larry Tanner, P.E., Wind Science and Engineering Research Center)

Approximately 10,000 lives are saved each year due to shelters and emergency plans (www.fema.gov)

36% of Americans do not have emergency preparedness plans

Information collection by Aislinn McNeill, Wind Science and Engineering Research Center, Texas Tech University.