U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves spoke about how hurricanes affect the economy and the necessity of addressing climate crises at the Hurricane Awareness Tour, the Department of Commerce (DOC) announced last week.
The May 3 event, held at Reagan International Airport, was part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) hurricane hazard education campaign and National Hurricane Preparedness Week May 1-7, DOC reports in the statement.
“As the nation gears up for another hurricane season, it’s important that all Americans living in the potential paths of these storms, even well inland of the coast, follow NOAA’s guidance for preparation,” Graves said, according to the statement. “Determine your risk, develop an evacuation plan, and assemble the disaster supplies that you may need if a disaster strikes.”
Hurricanes were four of the 20 weather- and climate-related billion-dollar disasters in U.S. last year, according to Graves.
“Severe weather events, especially hurricanes, have a significant economic impact on our country and around the world,” Graves said at the event.
Hurricane Ida, Hurricane Nicholas, Tropical Storm Fred, and Tropical Storm Elsa caused major impacts, the DOC reported. The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season ended with 21 named storms, including seven hurricanes. Four of the hurricanes were category three or higher. As the third most active year on record in terms of named storms, it also was the sixth consecutive above-normal Atlantic hurricane season.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo signed an order in April that directs the department to prioritize the fight against climate change in all its work, Graves said, the DOC reported.
“And with NOAA leading the way, the Commerce Department has been using every tool at our disposal to address this crisis and related economic impacts,” Graves said, according to the statement.
