Climate Group Rescues Key Disaster Data After Federal Cuts

When the Trump administration shut down a crucial federal database tracking billion-dollar climate disasters, Climate Central stepped in to fill the critical gap. The nonprofit organization has successfully revived the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) billion-dollar disaster database, which had been a vital tool for tracking the growing costs of hurricanes, floods, and other climate catastrophes.

The database’s resurrection comes at a critical time. In just the first six months of 2025, the United States recorded 14 billion-dollar weather disasters costing $101.4 billion—already far exceeding the annual average of nine such events. Four of the five most expensive disaster years on record have occurred since 2020, highlighting the urgent need for this type of data tracking.

Leading the effort is climatologist Adam Smith, who originally managed the database at NOAA before joining Climate Central. “We know climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of some types of extreme events,” Smith explained. The data helps communities understand how to build more resilient infrastructure—information that proved vital when Asheville, North Carolina used the database to make dam improvements that likely prevented catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Helene.

This rescue effort reflects a broader trend of nonprofits and state governments stepping in to preserve climate data as federal resources are eliminated. While advocacy groups argue that government agencies should maintain this critical information, organizations like Climate Central are ensuring that policymakers, insurers, and communities don’t lose access to data essential for disaster preparedness and climate resilience planning.