Why Flooding Affects More Homes, Business, Et Cetera, These Days

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As urban areas spread, it is more likely they are affected by tornadoes and, especially, floods increase the amount of damage they do. The illustration below is from Dr. Walker Ashley in 2014. 
The effect of more stuff and more valuable stuff in harm's way is sometimes mistaken for increasing losses due to global warming. 

The same in true of tornadoes. A 1973 tornado just northwest of Wichita did virtually no damage.
Today, the area in the path of that tornado is densely populated.  If exactly the same tornado were to occur today, damage would be into the tens of millions. 

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