EcoOnline Global’s Post

How does snowmelt impact flooding?   As frigid weather continues across the north of the US, we can expect an impact on our waterways in the months to come. Let's dig into snow melt, and why it can pose a big flood problem.   ❄️ What is snowmelt? ❄️ A snowmelt flood is simply a flood where melting snow is a major source of the water. Unlike rainfall flooding, which happens in the hours after heavy rain, snow and ice store the water for some time before melting. This frozen water can be stored in huge quantities, and when it melts after warmer weather, it unleashes the trapped water.   If there's more water than the ground can take, or the water overwhelms rivers, then flooding occurs. Things can complicate further, with frozen ground, heavy snow cover, unseasonably warm temperatures, and rain during the period of snowmelt all contributing to more severe snowmelt flooding.   A final general point to make about snowmelt is the delay. Depending on winter and spring conditions, snowmelt flooding can occur many months after the snow has fallen. For example, the Sierra snowpack in California typically reaches its maximum depth around April 1. The month of May might be associated with the cold weather turning, but it's often when rivers swell most from the snow of the preceding winter.   ❓ Where in the US floods from snowmelt❓ As you might expect, the northern United States are most likely to experience snowmelt flooding, typically coming round every year. According to the National Weather Service Training Center, in 2017 8 of the most significant floods of the 20th century (in terms of area, property damage and deaths) were related to snowmelt.   That doesn't mean that central and Southern states are completely immune to the impacts of snowmelt. Some of the great American rivers will swell thanks to melting snow, so those downstream should be aware of major events.   🗣 The expert view 🗣 We asked Catastrophe Risk Analyst Henry Bellwood for a quick view from the underwriters' desk. Here's Henry: "snowmelt is essentially the same mechanism of rainfall flooding, with precipitation causing rivers to overflow, but with a ~3 month delay. That means that extreme winters can lead to extreme springs. This "doubling" of the risk factors leads to additional uncertainty when it comes to predicting the impact of snowmelt.   "As climate change drives unseasonably warm winters, we are witnessing more explosive snowmelt seasons. They are happening at unpredictable times and scales, where abnormal spring conditions lead to flooding that we don't always have strong historic precedents for. It's certainly something to be aware of for 2024."   --- We’ve packed a lot of info into this post. Hopefully you feel better equipped to discuss snowmelt with clients. Feel free to get in touch with us to ask about snowmelt risk, or for coverage that pays fast when the weather begins to warm.   #snowmelt #floodinsurance #floodrisk

🌍🌀📉 Dive into the latest insights on global natural catastrophe losses! Swiss Re's report reveals record-breaking trends: insured losses exceeding $100B for the fourth year running, with severe convective storms leading the charge. Are we ready for the new norm in weather risks? Question for reflection: How can we collectively address the growing global protection gap in the face of escalating natural disasters? #NaturalDisasters #InsuranceTrends #ClimateChangeImpact https://lnkd.in/gUw4ydXV

There were 28 billion-dollar natural disasters in the U.S. in 2023, surpassing the previous record in 2020 and resulting in losses of at least $92.9 billion. So far in 2024, we’ve already experienced several natural disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each, and climate experts warn that we should view this escalated risk as the new normal. Three Actions to Take Now: 1. Catastrophe risk modeling (CAT modeling) 2. Targeted risk improvements 3. Emergency response planning To learn more you can refer to the article below... For more information on how to minimize the impact of catastrophic claims on your organization you can send me a LinkedIn message or email me at casper.wells@usi.com.

Climate change is reshaping our world, increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we experienced 27 separate wind and water events across the country that cost 1 billion dollars or more. Natural disasters leave lasting impacts on communities, conservation lands, and organizations like yours. We hope you'll join us on Thursday, April 11, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT, for "Preparing for Natural Disasters Part 2: Wind and Water." This webinar will provide invaluable insights to combat climate-related challenges, including: 1️⃣ Understanding climate change's impact on land trusts. 2️⃣ Practical steps to safeguard offices, buildings, and staff. 3️⃣ Best practices for flood and storm preparedness. This webinar is included in the 2024 All-Access Pass.

Not only is extreme heat a natural disaster worthy of a vigorous response, it is actually the DEADLIEST natural disaster. Climate change, unfortunately, is only accelerating the issue, and it will likely get significantly worse over the next decade. I'm curious about the perspective this article takes, as it views heat deaths as a mostly chronic health issue. While that may be the case in normal times, heat waves that produce contextually very high temperatures are responsible for large numbers of deaths. It's an odd view that downplays the impact of a disaster, because of its limited effects on property instead of human lives. I would posit that there is absolutely a role FEMA can play in heat events, just as they found a role in the pandemic. I do agree with the article's conclusion: "The petitioners asking FEMA to include extreme heat and wildfire smoke in their purview say the risks are more often crossing the threshold from chronic to acute. “The 20,000 foot issue right now is that our Federal Emergency Management Agency is ill-equipped to actually deal with the existential emergency of our time, which is the climate,” Su says. “We are no longer in property damage mode from earthquakes and floods. But we are now at a new elevated level where the emergency looks like actual deaths.”" https://lnkd.in/gxQNkZbt

Is climate change a reality or a hoax? Heavy rainfall in Florida. as in many tropical locations, is nothing new, but the intensity of this storm, 12 inches or close to 1 metre in one day, is not normal. Sadly, the frequency and severity of weather phenomena is occuring more and more often, and, thus, should be taken more serious, by society, than it has been. https://lnkd.in/dbzkHXwN

Across Australia, many communities this year have already experienced natural hazards including fire, flood and severe storms. Research and modelling predicts that many of these events will increase in frequency and intensity as the climate continues to change. So, what can planning do to keep Australians safe now and into the future, and strengthen the resilience of communities? In this article, Dr Mark Maund, Technical Executive, discusses the importance of planning for natural hazards and the challenges ahead: https://lnkd.in/gwSgNvj4 #Resilience #NaturalHazard #NaturalDisaster #ClimateChange #Planning #WeAreWSP

I'm pleased to share my interview with David Fogarty, Climate Change Editor at the The Straits Times, in which I argue that investment in disaster risk reduction and resilience must be an integral part of development processes. In developing countries, 50 percent of the infrastructure required by 2050 is yet to be built. This is a challenge, but there’s also an opportunity to get this right. We need to ensure that every school, health facility, bridge, and airport is built to be resilient against future disasters. We must also resist the tyranny of rush to rebuild in haste after disasters strike. It may take longer and require more effort to build back better in the aftermath of a disaster, but investing in long-term resilience delivers multiple benefits, strengthening communities and economies, and breaking the vicious cycle of disaster > response > recovery > repeat. To make this happen we need to involve all of society in resilience building. Health, education, power, water resources, and agricultural systems must all work together to enhance the quality of life for those affected. The media can also play an important role – pointing out how vulnerability and exposure increase disaster risks, but also telling the stories of where the right things have been done, and the positive results these actions have yielded. I encourage you to read the article: https://ow.ly/Fe1850SJZVG

From Climate Change to Climate Finance, Technology and Climate High Risks: Global Leadership perspectives and expert-insights by a talented expert with world-class experience, business acumen, stamina, wisdom, thoughtfulness, excellent skill sets, digital growth mindset, cleverness, hands-on expertise, exceptional leadership abilities, capacities and competencies: "Dear Vanel, welcome to the "powerful wave of young change-makers and potential leaders". They are rising, demanding to be heard and making their mark on society. In celebration of this youth-led movement, the Global Shapers Annual Summit 2024 will take place under the theme: "Dare to Innovate." My Global Leadership Legacy, Milestones and Scientific Journey as a successful global servant, transformational and inspirational leader: A True Leadership of Excellence: Global Servant Leader, CEO, Board of Directors, Quintessential Academic Intellectual, Risk MGMT Advocate, Consummate Civil Servant with Hands-on Expertise and Digital Growth Mindset. 1) How to define the world's TOP 100 High Risks and the highest Global Challenges, including Climate Change, Corruption, Bribery, Fraud Schemes, Mismanagement, Abuse, Skill Gaps, Cybersecurity Threats to Global Capital Markets and Financial Systems in 2024? 2) What is Policy? Does AI have a major impact on Policy design, adoption and implementation? What are the stages of the policy process? 3) What is the C-suite? About the fiduciary duty of the board of directors? About the qualitative approach to lay the foundation for environmentally and socially driven governance. 4) What is Climate Change? 𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻 𝑨𝑹𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑲𝑬𝒀 𝑷𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑨𝑹𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑬𝑺𝑮?  5) What are the different TYPES of Leadership Styles in the digital age of change and disruptive era of emerging technologies? From the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)": In an interview with the Straits Times, UNDRR head Kamal Kishore calls for investment in disaster risk reduction and resilience as an integral part of development processes, and for post-disaster reconstruction to be treated as an opportunity to build back better to improve resilience." “Dear Vanel, we are pleased to introduce you to Doerenkamp Zbinden Chair for Evidence-based Toxicology, and a contributor to the World Economic Forum's Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2024 report. As the Field Chief Editor of Frontiers in AI and a leading expert on the use of AI in scientific research, he is also a co-curator of the Transformation Map on AI for Scientific Discovery.” I take pride in motivating, inspiring, managing, influencing, unlocking human potential and helping the new multigenerational talented team of experts across the globe: How to define Cross-cultural psychology? About Behavioral Economics? What does it really take to be a successful global C-suite Executive and business leader in the disruptive era of emerging technologies?

From weeks of extreme heat in Perth to storms and bushfires in Victoria, and yet another cyclone headed our way, the ongoing spate of extreme weather across Australia has again demonstrated that the world has become more hazardous as a consequence of global warming. The reshaping of patterns of life in Australia by unnatural disasters has been primarily caused by fossil fuel corporations; the burning of coal, oil and gas is the number one cause of climate change. As climate impacts worsen, the solutions that we’ve had to deal with disasters are rapidly becoming unfit for purpose. A new approach is needed, founded on the best of our national character, taking courage from community response to disasters, and inspiration from the great democratic and economic reforms of Australian history. Increased national resilience should begin with prevention. The malign influence of fossil fuel corporations on our democracy, society and economy must be overcome so that we can rapidly transition away from coal, oil and gas to renewables. But even if we do everything right from here, the world has changed - and Australia must respond to that. We need a new national paradigm to safeguard people, now and in the future. The idea of universalism—that every human life is precious and deserving of the chance of full flourishing, and that this can only be truly guaranteed within a healthy environment—must be at the core of our response. We need a universal safety net response to climate damage. People cannot be left to fend for themselves in the face of worsening storms, fires and floods. And private market mechanisms - principally insurance - are simply not fit for purpose to cope with current and future impacts. Some principles that could underpin this paradigm shift include: 🌏 Stopping the problem at the source: Rapidly transitioning away from coal, oil and gas, and ending deforestation. 🌏 Urgent planning and preparing for climate impacts to get people and vital infrastructure out of harm's way as much as possible. 🌏 Ensuring adequate standalone resources for immediate disaster response. 🌏 Building a national system of environmental protection to give nature the best chance of resilience in a climate damaged world. 🌏 The creation of a universal climate security safety net, to ensure that no Australian is left behind by climate disasters.  🌏 Centering climate resilience within Australian foreign policy with particular focus on supporting the future flourishing of the Pacific family of nations. 🌏 Deepening our democracy and revitalising our public institutions to ensure that the wellbeing and security of people, not the profits of big polluters, determine the priorities of our country. How do you think Australia can ensure care for everyone here in an age of worsening climate disasters? Would love to hear from you in the comments. https://lnkd.in/g4C3Jibs