Up-Tick

July 1998's National Geographic reports:

Annual disasters are $50 billion per year now versus $25 billion 10 years ago. Inflation only accounts for $10 billion of the $25 billion increase. ... "I can show you charts that indicate the costs of natural disasters are going up almost exponentially" says Chris Tucker, senior scientific adviser for Emergency Preparedness Canada.

The Washington Post reported on July 2, 1998 that:

In 1984, the number of storms with hail at least three-quarters of an inch in size was 2,749 at the National Weather Service. In 1996, there were 9,636 reports.

From 1991 to 1996, the number of severe thunderstorms reported grew from 6,504 to 9,175.