The Year that Shook the Rich: A Review of Natural Disasters in 2011

2011 proved to be the most expensive year in terms of disaster losses in history, due to spate of disasters affecting developed countries. Globally, the ecnonomic cost of disasters in 2011 was $380 billion, of which $210 billion were the result of the earthquake and tsunmai in Japan. This was 72 percent higher than the losses in 2005, the second costliest year in history of disaster-related losses. This review analyzes some of the major events and trends related to natural disasters and humanitarian disaster response in 2011.
The review is available at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/reports/2012/03_natural_disaster_review_ferris/03_natural_disaster_review_ferris.pdf