2017 shattered record for damages from climate-linked disasters

Plus: Oprah 2020? No Images? Click here         2017 Shatters Records With $306 Billion In Damages From Climate-Linked Disasters The nation’s third-hottest year on record is now officially its costliest for billion-dollar natural disasters.  Sixteen major climate- and weather-related catastrophes caused a record $306.2 billion in damages and killed at least 362 people in 2017 as the United States suffered its worst wildfire and hurricane seasons in modern history, according to a report released Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hurricanes created the most damage, totaling $265 billion as Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma racked up a respective $125 billion, $90 billion and $50 billion. Wildfires caused $18 billion in losses, tripling previous annual records. The new tally shattered the previous 2005 record of $215 billion, driven mostly by Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita. Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall over Houston in late August, is second only to Katrina in for record billion-dollar disasters. “2017 was a historic year for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters,” Adam Smith, an climatologist at NOAA, said on a call with reporters. READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? After delivering an empowering rallying call for a “new day” for women at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, Oprah Winfrey said she has no plans to run for president, but that it is something she’d consider. READ MORE The Trump administration told 200,000 Salvadorans who have been living in the U.S. for 17 years or more that they need to get out by September 2019 or face deportation. The move hurts U.S. interests to further an anti-immigration ideology, advocates say. READ MORE In an award show that was so much about politics, Trump barely came up. At the Golden Globes, it was striking that the president was mostly a nonentity — unlike during last year’s ceremony, when he loomed large. READ MORE    .     ICYMI The marijuana industry isn't freaking out about the threat of a federal crackdown. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wanted to make state-legal weed businesses paranoid, but they’re mostly chill for now.   New Jersey state prisons have ended a ban that prevented inmates from reading a highly praised book that links racial discrimination and mass incarceration.   Here's ten Democratic primaries to watch in 2018.    . Want more?  It’s Not Genius For Trump To Point To Reagan When Defending His Mental Stability Jake Tapper Pulls The Plug On Stephen Miller’s Train Wreck Interview Trump Mixes Up ‘Consequential’ With ‘Consensual’ In Tweet About New York Post Column     How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe