An ‘exhausting year’ of disasters for the U.S.
Last year, there were more disaster-related deaths than any other year on record. In December, the Associated Press described 2010 as “the year the Earth struck back.”
Yesterday, the Associated Press wrote that as bad as it was for the world in 2010, the United States was mostly spared the devastation of “natural” disasters. This year, while there have been massive upsets in places like Australia, New Zealand and Japan, it’s now America’s turn to get “smacked,” the AP writes.
Unprecedented triple-digit heat and devastating drought. Deadly tornadoes leveling towns. Massive rivers overflowing. A billion-dollar blizzard. And now, unusual hurricane-caused flooding in Vermont.
If what’s falling from the sky isn’t enough, the ground shook in places that normally seem stable: Colorado and the entire East Coast. On Friday, a strong quake triggered brief tsunami warnings in Alaska. Arizona and New Mexico have broken records for wildfires. Total weather losses top $35 billion, and that’s not counting Hurricane Irene, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. There have been more than 700 U.S. disaster and weather deaths, most from the tornado outbreaks this spring.
All totaled, the United States has had a record 10 “natural” disasters this year that have topped more than a billion dollars in damage. Ten billion-dollar disasters in one year—and we’re barely into September.
Some “experts” say we’ve had a run of bad luck. Others insist the cause has something to do with global warming.
God, however, says it is a sign that we are living in the very last days. Weather disasters, as they increase in frequency and intensity, are actually fulfilling Bible prophecy. These are among the signs Christ gave of the end of the world we know—and the beginning of a beautiful new world we can hardly even imagine.
For more on why “natural” disasters, study this new booklet.