Economic Effects associated with El Niño
Here is an example of how costly an El Niño can be. The total results
are not in for the 1997-98 El Niño yet, its beleived that it will be
more costly than the 1982-83 El Niño!
The Economic Effects of the 1982-83 El Niño
1.BOLIVIA:
DAMAGE: $300 million.
EFFECTS: Storm related floods.
VICTIMS: 50 dead, 26,000 homeless.
2.CHRISTMAS ISLANDS:
EFFECTS: 17 million birds disappear, abandoning their nestlings.
3.COAST OF CALIFORNIA:
EFFECTS: Torrential rains, winds, and high tides erode coast and dislodge kelp beds.
Fishermen find species of marine life that do not belong there, and could not find
those that did. Los Angeles has nearly triple the amount of normal rainfall.
4.CUBA:
DAMAGE: $17 million.
EFFECTS: Storm related floods.
VICTIMS: 15 dead.
5.ECUADOR AND NORTHERN PERU:
DAMAGE: $650 million.
EFFECTS: Flooding and coastal destruction from high surf.
VICTIMS: 600 dead.
6.FRENCH POLYNESIA:
DAMAGE: Unknown.
EFFECTS: Six major tropical storms. Several towns swept away by storm surges.
7.GALAPAGOS ISLANDS:
EFFECTS: Massive bird migration off of Island. Bird and mammal nests abandoned. Nearly 100% of fur seal pups lost.
Ninety-five percent coral reef mortality.
8.HAWAII:
DAMAGE: $230 million.
EFFECTS: 1 hurricane.
VICTIMS: 1 dead.
9.IBERIAN PENINSULA AND NORTHERN AFRICA:
DAMAGE: $200 million.
EFFECTS: Drought.
10.INDONESIA:
DAMAGE: $500 million.
EFFECTS: Drought.
VICTIMS: 340 dead.
11.JAPAN:
EFFECTS: Oyashio cold current extends further south reducing abalone harvest off the coast of Honshu Island.
12.KIRIBATO TO THE LINE ISLANDS:
DAMAGE: Incomplete.
EFFECTS: Heavy storms.
13.MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA:
DAMAGE: $600 million.
EFFECTS: Drought.
14.MICRONESIA:
DAMAGE: Incomplete.
EFFECTS: Severe drought and fires.
15.MIDDLE EAST (MOSTLY LEBANON):
DAMAGE: $50 million.
EFFECTS: Cold and snow.
VICTIMS: 65 dead.
16.PHILIPPINES:
DAMAGE: $450 million.
EFFECTS: Drought.
17.SOUTHERN AFRICA:
DAMAGE: $1 billion.
EFFECTS: Drought.
18.SOUTHERN BRAZIL, NORTHERN ARGENTINA AND EASTERN PARAGUAY:
DAMAGE: $3 billion.
EFFECTS: Flooding.
VICTIMS: 170 dead and 600,000 Evacuated.
19.SOUTHERN CHINA:
DAMAGE: $600 million.
EFFECTS: Wet weather.
VICTIMS: 600 dead.
20.SOUTHERN INDIA AND SRI LANKA:
DAMAGE: $150 million.
EFFECTS: Drought.
21.SOUTHERN PERU AND WESTERN BOLIVIA:
DAMAGE: $240 million.
EFFECTS: Drought.
22.TAHITI:
DAMAGE: $50 million.
EFFECTS: 1 hurricane.
VICTIMS: 1 dead.
23.UNITED STATES
MOUNTAIN AND PACIFIC STATES:
DAMAGE: $1.1 billion.
EFFECTS: Storms.
VICTIMS: 45+ dead.
SOUTHWEST STATES:
DAMAGE: Incomplete.
EFFECTS: Storms.
GULF STATES:
DAMAGE: $1.1 billion.
EFFECTS: Storm related floods.
VICTIMS: 50+ dead.
NORTHEASTERN STATES:
DAMAGE: Incomplete.
EFFECTS: Storms.
VICTIMS: 66 dead.
24.WESTERN EUROPE:
DAMAGE: $200 million.
EFFECTS: Storm related floods.
VICTIMS: 25 dead.