2018 lawsuits and corrections
Deadliest United States hurricanes Rank Hurricane Season Fatalities
1 “Galveston” 1900 8,000–12,000
2 “San Ciriaco” 1899 3,389
3 Maria 2017 2,982
4 “Okeechobee” 1928 2,823
5 “Cheniere Caminada” 1893 2,000
6 Katrina 2005 1,245–1,836
7 “Sea Islands” 1893 1,000–2,000
8 “Indianola” 1875 771
9 “Florida Keys” 1919 745
10 “Georgia” 1881 700
Reference: Deadliest US hurricanes[24]
In light of mounting evidence contradicting the official government death toll and allegations of a coverup, CNN and Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism filed three lawsuits against the Government of Puerto Rico in February 2018.[25][16]
The lawsuits requested the government to release “death certificates and related data”.[26] During court hearings, the government argued that at least some information should be withheld over privacy concerns for the dead.[25]
On June 4, Superior Court Judge Lauracelis Roques Arroyo ruled the requested information to be public record and ordered the data to be published within a week.[26]
The government filed a motion to delay the release of these records on June 12, citing more time was needed to compile the information due to limited staff and budgeting. However, the court rejected the motion and maintained the original release date.[25]
Accordingly the Government of Puerto Rico released updated death statistics for the months following Hurricane Maria on June 13.[16] Compared to the average deaths in September to December 2013–2016, September to December 2017 had 1,427 excess deaths; however, it is unknown how many of these deaths are attributable to the hurricane. Furthermore, the government acknowledged the death toll was greater than 64 but an official revision would not be made until the results of George Washington University study were published.[27]
Typhoon Jebi hit Japan Sept 4th this year. It is considered to be the strongest typhoon to strike Japan since Typhoon Yancy in 1993.
The typhoon ripped through the Kansai area (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto) and cause 11 deaths.
Common Sense: Places like Puerto Rico, Japan, The Philippines are bound to have low loss of life from tropical storms because the people are prepared.
Katrina had a high loss of life because they were hit by a very severe storm and the people were probably less prepared for a hit like this.