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Les Etats-Unis enregistrent les plus grandes pertes économiques dues à des catastrophes naturelles (principalement des ouragans), soit une moyenne annuelle de 18 milliards de dollars pour la période allant de 1980 à 2008. Dans ce pays, 4 grandes zones urbaines côtières sont particulièrement vulnérables: Miami, la Nouvelle-Orléans, Houston et Tampa.
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The USA suffers the world’s greatest economic loss because of natural disasters (mainly hurricanes): on average annually 18 billion USD between 1980 and 2008. Four major coastal urban areas are particularly vulnerable: Miami, New Orleans, Houston, and Tampa. With a unique confluence of geography, expansive lowlands (particularly in the New Orleans area), wetland loss, deforestation, rapid development, large populations of the poor, and a heavy concentration of industry, the Gulf Coast is extremely vulnerable to hurricanes. In addition to more than 1800 lives, Katrina cost the Gulf Coast area at least $125 billion in economic damage and could cost the insurance industry up to $60 billion in claims.
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