Magazine date:
Nov 2012 According to Munich Re, North America is the area hardest hit by climate hazards over the last 30 years. These events are behind the rising costs of property insurance. From 1980 to 2011, economic losses are set at 1 060 billion USD, half of which are insured while 30 000 people perished. During this period, climate catastrophes went fivefold against fourfold in Asia, 2.5 for Africa, 2 for Europe and 1.5 for South America. Storms have been the most costly events on the continent. Hurricane Katrina, which lashed New Orleans in 2005, has been the deadliest and most onerous.