Detailing the impact of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfiresand sinkhole events that have occurred over the course of the yearin the United States, CoreLogic released its annual Natural HazardRisk Summary and Analysis. The report, which summarizes propertyand structure damage, geographic impact and financial repercussionsof natural disasters, revealed that 2013 experienced a record lownumber of natural hazard events.

“Many predicted that 2013 would be a record year of catastrophicdestruction,” said Dr. Thomas Jeffery, senior principal scientistfor CoreLogic. “The number of natural disasters that typicallycause widespread destruction—mainly hurricanes, wildfires andtornadoes—were far less than anticipated and [were far less]compared to last year’s record-setting hazard seasons.”

Despite the lows for hurricane, wildfire, and tornadodestruction, however, the abnormal sinkhole activity garneredpublic attention.

“Interestingly, one natural hazard that tends to receive verylittle attention took center stage in 2013, as three separatesinkhole catastrophes took place in Florida,” Jeffery noted.“Though massive damage and loss of life from sinkholes is uncommon,this year’s events were large enough to draw significant mediacoverage, raising public awareness of the true risk associated withthis often-overlooked hazard.”

The report analyzes the impact of disasters that have occurredthroughout 2013 and also provides a summary of potential risk forthe upcoming year.

“Going into 2014, it’s important to remember that hazard drivenproperty damage and loss can, and does, occur each year, and withthe cynical nature of some of these events, this year should beconsidered a fair warning that next year will likely see a returnto the higher average numbers and damaging natural disasters,”Jeffery said.

Click through the following slides for the report’s keyfindings.

Read the full report here.

Hurricanes

Compared to last year’s brutal hurricane season, including, ofcourse, Hurricane Sandy, there was little hurricane activity in2013.

Only 13 storms were named, with just two reaching hurricaneclassification. None of these storms had a direct impact on theUnited States, resulting in relatively minor damage.

Overall, hurricane totals were ultimately lower than pre-seasonpredictions and disproportionally lower than hurricane seasons ofthe past. Hurricane Humberto, the first official hurricane of theyear, also nearly set the record for the latest formation of theseason’s first hurricane—being shy by just three hours.

Floods

The low number of storms in the Atlantic also resulted inrelatively moderate flooding.

The most significant flooding event was in Boulder, Colo. inSeptember. Resulting in the destruction or damage of more than19,000 homes across 17 counties, precipitation from the stormreached record-setting levels.

CoreLogic predicts that national flood losses for 2013 willtotal approximately $2 billion.

Tornadoes

Despite severe storms across the Midwest, total tornado activityin 2013 hit a historic low.

However, a violent wave of activity late-season resulted insevere storms in Oklahoma and other Midwest states. The widesttornado ever recorded struck El Reno, Okla. in early June,measuring 2.6 miles at its widest point, and on May 20, and EF5tornado swept through Moore, Okla. Creating a 17-mile path, thestorm killed 23 people, injuring 337 others and resulted inapproximately $2 billion in damages.

Wildfires

The total acreage burned as well as the total number ofwildfires in 2013 were both lower than the 10-year average,according to the CoreLogic report. Excluding California, Colorado,Washington and Idaho, which maintained at average levels, Westernstates generally saw lower wildfire activity than usual.

However, individual fires caused massive destruction. 8,400acres and 129 homes were destroyed in Arizona’s Yarnell Hill Fire,and 14,000 acres burned in Colorado’s Black Forest Fire, resultingin the destruction or damage of more than 500 homes and exceeding$300 million in losses.

A California fire set records, becoming the third largest in thestate’s history. The Rim Fire, which destroyed more than 257,000acres, including much of the Stanislaus National Forest andYosemite National Park, occurred approximately 100 miles east ofSan Francisco.

Experts indicate that there is potential for increased wildfirerisk in 2014, with persisting drought conditions in the west andincrease in fuel load in wildfire areas.

Sinkholes

A flurry of sinkhole activity in Florida garnered publicattention over the last year. Three notable sinkholes occurredwithin the last year in Seffner, Clermont and Dunedin, Fla.

CoreLogic’s sinkhole database recognizes 23,000 identifiedsinkholes, which indicates that sinkhole activity will most likelycontinue to be a substantial risk across thenation, particularly in the sunshine state.