NOAA to Discontinue Billion-Dollar Disaster Database

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that it will archive its database of billion-dollar climate disasters, effective as of calendar year 2024. The decision comes amid significant cuts to the agency's resources by the Trump administration.

The database, which has tracked major weather disasters in the U.S. since 1980, collects information from federal and state agencies, insurance companies, and other sources to estimate the direct costs of individual events such as hurricanes or wildfires.

"The tool will be retired, with no updates beyond calendar year 2024," NOAA stated, citing "alignment with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes."

Although the database will no longer be updated, all existing data will remain accessible. The most recent full year of data showed that 27 events accounted for over $182 billion in damage to the U.S., resulting in 568 deaths.