87 weather events between 1998 and 2011 each over 1 billion in damages

National Geographic reports that between 1998 and 2011, there have been 87 severe weather events in the U.S., and each caused at least $1 billion in damages, though they were comparatively modest economically compared to Hurricane Katrina, which topped out at $146 billion. The total disaster price tag nearly doubled the cost of the previous 16-year period.

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Al Gore rallies citizen deputies to break through climate-change denial while there’s still (a little) hope.

To me, the most remarkable thing is not the 87 weather events of 1 billion dollars or more in damages. To me, what is remarkable is that the total damage of this 16 year period is double the previous 16 year period when you include Katrina in the dollar damages.  That 80% of all tillable farmland has been affected by the drought in the U.S. and because of Russia's drought and fires they have stopped shipping all grains means the richer nations "U.S., Russia, China, Canada, Europe, Brazil etc. will be able to pay a higher price for almost any grain than third world nations will be able to. Since grain is sold between countries to the highest bidder in reality, the rich nations will get the quality grains and the poor nations unless they grow it won't have it.