The Biggest Disaster Each Year Plays Out One Incident At A Time
Updated: Feb 20
If you heard that last year a disaster occurred, it killed nearly 3000 people and injured almost 13,000 people, what would you think? Is that a major event?
D911 helps with common disasters we call "everyday disasters".
"Everyday disasters" have a significant impact on individuals and communities in the United States. Depending on the type and severity of the disaster, it results in physical harm, property damage, and economic losses. It will also disrupt daily life and routines, cause stress and trauma, and create long-lasting emotional and psychological effects.
House fires are a solid example, a house fire can result in the loss of a home and personal belongings, displacement, and financial hardship. Not much differentl than a hurricane or tornaod. Flooding also causes extensive damage to homes and businesses, disrupts transportation and access to basic services, and leads to health concerns related to contaminated water and mold. Natural disasters have widespread effects, damaging infrastructure and causing widespread power outages and other disruptions. Everday disasters happen to one home or business, one family or a neighborhood. By the numbers, they cause even more damage than major events do, just one insult at a time.
Let us consider our example of fires in homes. House fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), occur on average 358,500 times a year or approximately 976 house fires per day. There are an average of 2,760 fire-related deaths reported in the United States each year. In addition, an average of 12,620 fire-related injuries are reported annually. These fires occur in both homes and businesses and can be caused by a variety of factors such as cooking equipment, heating equipment, electrical equipment, and smoking materials, among others. Everyday occurrances, resulting in disaster for those that are affected.
How about floods, they are very expensive. The number of property damaging floods in the United States varies from year to year and is dependent on various factors such as weather patterns, the severity and frequency of storms, and local infrastructure and development patterns. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) estimates that, on average, there are over 20,000 flood insurance claims made each year with an average claim running about $40,000. It's worth noting that not all floods result in a claim being made, so this number likely underrepresents the total number of floods that occur in the US each year. Sometimes floods happen in a home from an unchecked broken pipe, this is a disaster too.
Plumbing failures may cause damage as severe as a fire, but you cannot call E911 for help, no dramatic response here. The frequency of plumbing failures damaging homes and businesses is relative to a number of factors such as the age and maintenance of the plumbing systems, local water quality, and weather conditions. Even so, the Insurance Information Institute (III) estimates that water damage claims accounted for more than a quarter (26%) of all homeowner property insurance claims in 2020, making it one of the most common causes of home insurance claims. These water damage claims can be caused by a variety of factors, including plumbing failures. It's worth noting that not all plumbing failures result in significant damage to a property, but they certainly are a common cause of property damage.
Everyday - Disaster
That is why the D911 Disaster Response Mobile App is important to your life, family and community. You will be ready to get help in just seconds when you have the D911 app in you mobile device, set-up and ready to go.
The impact of everyday disasters can be mitigated through preparation, planning, and access to resources such as insurance and disaster relief programs. However, it's important to note that even with these resources, the recovery process can be long and difficult, and the effects of a disaster can linger for years.