How does climate change affect disasters?
Climate change is a humanitarian crisis. Find out key stats about climate change, how it affects disasters and people, and what we’re doing about it.
Storm season is here
And it’s destroying homes
We’re provide emergency shelter for families who have lost their homes to extreme storms, but we need your help.
Every year, communities are devastated as hurricanes, tropical storms, cyclones and typhoons make landfall.
But as climate change intensifies, these storms are creating even more destruction. In fact, in the next 20 years, more than 200 million people will be uprooted by extreme storms.
We will continue helping people on the frontline of climate change as long as it’s needed. Join us.
What would you do?
Imagine you live with your partner and children on an island in the South Pacific. A category 5 tropical cyclone is coming. What do you do next?
Record breaking storms
Did you know that every year 21 names are chosen in advance to be used for extreme weather events like hurricanes?
And did you know that in 2020 and 2021, there were so many extreme storms that the full list of names was used up? There is only one other time in history when that has happened. And while there were less storms in 2022, they were some of the most devastating in terms of loss of life and cost of damage.
Scientists have predicted for years that the climate crisis would make extreme weather events more frequent and more devastating. Now, around the world, the communities we support are facing this reality head on.
Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones
What's the difference?
Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all tropical storms. The only difference is where they form.
Hurricanes form in the tropical Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Typhoons form in the West Pacific Ocean and cyclones form south of the equator, off the coast of places such as Australia and Madagascar.
Learn more about hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons.
Will you help us be ready?
The next big storm could hit any day, but together we can make sure families have a place to shelter.
Explore more
Disasters explained: Hurricanes
Find out everything you need to know about hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons.
Hurricanes explained: The Saffir-Simpson Scale
The Saffir-Simpson wind scale is used to classify Atlantic hurricanes into 5 categories. Learn what that means.
Why disasters are not natural
Read why we no longer use the term ‘natural disasters’, the definition of a disaster, and how we have come to change our language.
Make a donation
Support our work and help families rebuild their homes and their lives.
Disasters Explained
Everything you need to know about disasters – from extreme weather events to complex conflicts.