Each year, natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires affect hundreds of communities and people worldwide. According to the National Center for Environmental Information, natural disasters cost the United States $145 billion in 2021, with hurricanes, wildfires, droughts and deep freezes making headlines. The three costliest disasters in 2021 were category four Hurricane Ida in August ($75 billion), February cold temperatures that caused power outages in Texas and the central U.S. ($24 billion) and a series of wildfires in California and other western states ($10.6 billion).