1998 Year of the Ocean Mitigating the Impacts of Coastal Hazards 



supports a disproportionate percentage of the nation's population. The nation's 451 coastal 

 counties contain just over 50 percent of the U.S. population, yet only account for about 20 

 percent of the total U.S. land area. During the last decade, 17 of the 20 fastest growing counties 

 were located along the coast. In addition, 19 of the 20 most densely populated counties in the 

 nation are coastal counties, as are 16 of the 20 counties with the largest number of new housing 

 units under construction. 



Coastal locations were some of the first settled in this country, and have always 

 accounted for a major percentage of the overall U.S. population. Their role as primary centers for 

 transportation, tourism, recreation, commercial fishing, and other industry has ensured that 

 coastal areas remain a crucial segment of the nation's overall economy. In the past, larger coastal 

 populations were generally centered in the major port cities. Natural hazards affecting these cities 

 were sometimes devastating, but there were fewer locations to potentially be affected. As coastal 

 populations have increased, cities have become larger and more numerous. With the growth of 

 coastal tourism, it is no longer necessary to rely exclusively on ports and industry to fuel 

 economic growth in even the most remote coastal areas. There are now many more coastal 

 locations with significant populations and property resources exposed to potentially devastating 

 impacts from natural hazards. 



Disaster losses in the United States are currently estimated conservatively at $50 billion 

 annually. Losses in 1970 were estimated at approximately $4.5 billion annually. These figures 

 only account for direct costs. They do not include indirect losses such as short and long-term 

 economic and social impacts that many experts believe could more than double these cited 

 figures. Of the estimated $500 billion in disaster losses between 1975 and 1994, 80 percent were 

 imposed by meteorological events and 10 percent were the result of earthquakes and volcanoes. 

 About 17 percent ($85 billion) of the estimated losses were insured. Since 1989, approximately 

 $20 billion in losses have been paid by the federal government in presidentially declared 

 disasters. It is interesting to note that while losses from major catastrophic events are rising, the 

 majority of hazards-related damages result from smaller events that do not qualify for federal • 

 assistance and which are not insured, leaving victims primarily responsible for the costs. 



The turning point in focusing national attention on disaster losses began with Hurricane 

 Hugo and the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 and has been followed in rapid succession by 

 major catastrophic events including Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki in 1992, the Midwest floods in 

 1993, and the Northridge earthquake in 1994. In recent years, several hurricanes including 

 Hurricanes Opal, Marilyn, and Fran have significantly impacted the Southeast, Gulf, and 

 Caribbean coasts, while the Pacific Islands and the West Coast have been pounded by Typhoons 

 Omar and Paka and numerous El Nino-induced events. Destructive and costly ongoing flooding 

 and erosion along the Great Lakes coast associated with higher than average lake levels and 

 coastal storms has also occurred. The impacts from all of these large-scale events are having a 

 profound effect on public policy and perceptions concerning hazards. 



H-3 



