In a similar vein, the Department of Transportation has documented that more than 6000 fatalities per year can be directly or indirectly attributed to weather. Heat waves kill an average of 1000 people each year in the United States. Flood-related damages have risen steadily over the past three decades. As the population continues to grow, the weather's economic impact also continues to escalate. During the 10-year period from 1986 through 1995, the property damage insurance claims due to wind, hail, snow, and tornadoes have increased by a factor of 5.
Weather impacts virtually every citizen and industry in the country.
Weather and hydrologic forecasts and warnings help the general public and industry plan a wide range of daily activities that are sensitive to the weather. Predictions, including watches and warnings relating to severe and hazardous weather and flood conditions, are utilized by emergency managers to protect lives and property and by industry to improve the efficiency of weather-sensitive enterprises. For example, the death toll due to hurricanes, lightning, and tornadoes has decreased steadily due to improved weather forecasts and warnings. The U.S. economy benefits from weather forecasts in a number of ways, ranging from helping the energy industry to anticipate their requirements for heating fuel to providing guidance to the farmer as to which day to harvest crops. The large demand for accurate specialized forecasts from various economic sectors has led to the rapid growth of private meteorological firms.