US Has Record Number of Disasters With Losses Topping $1 Billion

There’s more than two months left in the year, but the US has already faced a record number of disasters costing $1 billion or more in 2023, with 24 such events. That tally is likely grow even bigger as officials assess the costs of Hurricane Hillary, hail storms that hit Texas last month and flooding in New York.

In the first nine months of the year, storms, drought and a wildfire killed 373 people and caused $67.1 billion in damage, according to a report issued by the National Centers for Environmental Information. In addition to the destruction, Texas, Louisiana, ...