Last year there were 12 separate natural disasters in the United States that cost over $1 billion, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- a record amount.
They included one of the worst droughts ever recorded in Texas and devastating floods in North Dakota, pictured above, and elsewhere in the Midwest.
Many see the hand of global warming in at least some of these events.
"Climate change is becoming about as subtle as a kick to the shins," said Aaron Huertas, a spokesman for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
While $12 billion would hardly derail the economy of Maine, let alone the United States, it's worth noting that each year the world emits record amounts of greenhouse gases, and it's doing very little to reverse the trend. How long before another major city ends up under water?
"As far as climate stuff goes," said Huertas, "we're heading in the wrong direction."
President of European Central Bank says euro is "irreversible" even though he sees tougher time for banks in coming year, and ECB talks of rising contagion risk.
