Rising sea levels are biggest climate change threat
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Risk mitigation is possible for the vast majority of U.S. tornadoes, James Waller, a research meteorologist for Guy Carpenter & Co. L.L.C., said Tuesday at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America's annual meeting in Boston.
In the U.S., 95% of tornadoes are rated EF0 to EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which on Feb. 1, 2007, replaced in the U.S. the Fujita scale, which was introduced in 1971.
Mitigation is possible for such storms, Mr. Waller said.
“If you can keep the roof on for an extra 30 seconds, it will make all the difference in the world,” he said. This can be accomplished by anchoring the roof through the walls to the foundation of a structure, Mr. Waller said.
Turning to climate change, Mr. Waller said the greatest threat of climate change is rising sea levels. This could result not only in increased coastal flooding, but in inland flood dangers as well, he said.
He also addressed changes in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, which was classified as a post-tropical cyclone by the National Hurricane Center. The result was the introduction by the NHC of provisions for post-tropical cyclone language and tropical storm warnings by the center.
Mr. Waller also said that there are currently no long-term trends visible about the frequency of tornadoes, hurricanes or hail.
