Great windstorm catastrophes 1950-2004
Table 2 shows the development of great windstorm loss events in recent decades. In the period 1950-2004, there was a distinct increase not only in the number of windstorm catastrophes but also, taking into account the price development of the respective decades, in the material repercussions.
Besides the increase in values due to inflation, there are various other factors that also influence the loss figures, including population development and distribution, fluctuations in the standard of living, and changes in the vulnerability of technologies and construction methods to high wind speeds. For this reason, Table 2 does not give unequivocal proof of a change in windstorm activity (frequency and/or intensity) in the period under observation. That can only be provided by meteorological statistics.
|
Decade
|
Number
|
Economic losses
|
Insured losses
|
| 1950-59 |
7 |
11.6 |
— |
| 1960-69 |
10 |
34.6 |
6.2 |
| 1970-79 |
19 |
54.3 |
12.3 |
| 1980-89 |
21 |
56.8 |
22.0 |
| 1990-99 |
42 |
194.1 |
87.0 |
| Last 10 Years 1995-2004 |
30 |
171,7 |
80,7 |
| 80s:60s |
2.1 |
1.6 |
3.6 |
| Last 10 years:60er |
3.0 |
5.5 |
13.0 |
(Losses in US$ bn, 2004 values) Source: Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, 2005
* Windstorm catastrophes are classed as great if the ability of the region to help itself is distinctly overtaxed, making interregional or international assistance necessary.
This is usually the case when hundreds or thousands of people are killed, hundreds of thousands are made homeless, or when a country suffers substantial economic losses, depending on the economic circumstances generally prevailing in that country.