December 11, 2024
This year underscored the urgency of science-based disaster management tools and information, as devastating tropical cyclones like Man-Yi in the Philippines, Beryl and Sara in the Caribbean and Central America, and Hurricane Helene in the United States, levied unprecedented destruction along their paths. Similarly, other parts of the world were plagued by severe flooding and landslides as seen in Colombia, Bolivia, and Papua New Guinea, and catastrophic wildfires such as those experienced in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Australia’s Northern Territory. There were simply too many catastrophes to count.