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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Best Practices > Publications > Publication Titles

Title:

Socioeconomic Impacts of Heavy Precipitation in the United States

Abstract:

Flood losses rank just behind hurricane losses as the second greatest cause of economic losses from weather, and flood losses continue to grow. The number of lives lost due to flooding is decreasing but still ranks as the third highest cause of death ranking behind heat waves and lightning. Heavy rain in the Chicago metro area create rain-slick streets and highways causing three times the number of accidents than occur in light rain conditions. They also cause a 25% increase in the number of fatalities.

Source(s):

American Meteorological Society; 12th Symposium on Global Change Studies and Climate Variations Precipitation Extremes: Prediction, Impacts, and Responses; Illinois State Water Survey. For an electronic copy of this resource, please direct your request to WeatherFeedback@dot.gov.

Date: NA

Author:

Changnon

Keywords:


Precipitation
Flooding
Crashes
Safety

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