Wei-Lin Wong

Yeah, like some municipalities supplement government forecasts with information from private companies that they pay for. But then it's like, what about towns that can't afford to do that?

Yeah, like some municipalities supplement government forecasts with information from private companies that they pay for. But then it's like, what about towns that can't afford to do that?

Exactly. And in economics, we talk about this thing called a public good. A public good is something that can be used simultaneously by multiple people without diminishing, and it's something that's available to everyone.

Exactly. And in economics, we talk about this thing called a public good. A public good is something that can be used simultaneously by multiple people without diminishing, and it's something that's available to everyone.

Exactly. And in economics, we talk about this thing called a public good. A public good is something that can be used simultaneously by multiple people without diminishing, and it's something that's available to everyone.

And this benefit isn't just abstract for Renato. He and a colleague crunched the numbers around this federal program that's aimed at improving hurricane forecasts. They estimate that it led to $7 billion in avoided damages and costs since 2009.

And this benefit isn't just abstract for Renato. He and a colleague crunched the numbers around this federal program that's aimed at improving hurricane forecasts. They estimate that it led to $7 billion in avoided damages and costs since 2009.

And this benefit isn't just abstract for Renato. He and a colleague crunched the numbers around this federal program that's aimed at improving hurricane forecasts. They estimate that it led to $7 billion in avoided damages and costs since 2009.

In the case of Hurricane Milton this year, accurate forecasts meant that many people in Florida had ample warning to prepare. The alert enabled one of the largest evacuations in state history. And that might have prevented the devastation from being even worse. This episode was produced by Julia Ritchie with engineering by Kweisi Lee. It was fact-checked by Sarah Juarez and edited by Patty Hirsch.

In the case of Hurricane Milton this year, accurate forecasts meant that many people in Florida had ample warning to prepare. The alert enabled one of the largest evacuations in state history. And that might have prevented the devastation from being even worse. This episode was produced by Julia Ritchie with engineering by Kweisi Lee. It was fact-checked by Sarah Juarez and edited by Patty Hirsch.

In the case of Hurricane Milton this year, accurate forecasts meant that many people in Florida had ample warning to prepare. The alert enabled one of the largest evacuations in state history. And that might have prevented the devastation from being even worse. This episode was produced by Julia Ritchie with engineering by Kweisi Lee. It was fact-checked by Sarah Juarez and edited by Patty Hirsch.

Kicking Cannon is our show's editor and The Indicator is a production of NPR.

Kicking Cannon is our show's editor and The Indicator is a production of NPR.

Kicking Cannon is our show's editor and The Indicator is a production of NPR.

As NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator has been asking businesses how tariffs are affecting their bottom line. I paid $800,000 today.

As NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator has been asking businesses how tariffs are affecting their bottom line. I paid $800,000 today.

As NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator has been asking businesses how tariffs are affecting their bottom line. I paid $800,000 today.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.