Growing Costs of Extreme Weather

A study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research estimates that the bottom-line cost of all the meteorological craziness is a staggering $485 billion per year in the U.S. alone, as much as 3.4% of the country's GDP.

"It's clear that our economy isn't weatherproof," Jeffrey Lazo, the study's lead author, said in a statement. "Even routine changes in the weather can add up to substantial impacts on the U.S. economy."

Which is a good reason for business owners and homeowners to "Armor Their Glass" the weakest link of buildings. Hurricane IKE, for example, caused billions in damages from bother rising water and window breaks - the Chase Tower sustained over $5 million in damages when windows were sucked out of their frames by the vortex winds created by IKE. Armor Glass film with frame attachment would have kept those windows in place, even if they were broken.