April 27th, 2009

67 Worst U.S Natural Disasters: The Last 103 Years

The threat of natural disasters is something many Americans live with every day. In a matter of moments homes are destroyed and lives are lost, and while there is insurance to protect your life and assets against Mother Nature, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, they  still do their share of damage every year, usually to the tune of billions of dollars. We have listed 67 moments in U.S history when nothing has become more apparent that despite our best efforts to prepare, the forces of nature can be devastating.

Listed by year, not size.

1. The Great San Francisco Earthquake

California
April 18, 1906
3,000 dead, $6.5 billion
Deliberately tweaking the title to include this 1906 natural disaster, we figured The Great San Francisco Earthquake was a must have on this list. As one of the worst earthquakes in U.S history it just had to be acknowledged.

2. The Grand Isle Hurricane

Louisiana
September 20, 1909
350 dead

As the eighth hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season of 1909 hit the United States, Gran Isle in Louisiana suffered some of the worst damage. This hurricane is still considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S history with over 350 fatalities and 5 million dollars (1909 USD) in damages.

3. The Big Blowup

Idaho and Montana
August 20 - 21, 1910
85 dead

Known also as The Great Fire or The Big Burn, this wildfire burned down a staggering 3 million acres and killed 85 people.

4. The Wellington Avalanche

Montana, Washington
March 1, 1910
97 dead

Two trains passing between Seattle and Spokane were located near Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains when the Wellington avalanche came roaring down. The avalanche took the lives of a total of 96 passengers and train personnel, leaving few survivors.

5. The Ohio River Flood

Ohio River
March, 1913
700 dead

When the Ohio river flooded in 1913, damages were significant. This lead to the First National Flood Board and Program.

6. Great Lakes Storm of 1913 - The Big Blow

Midwest, Ontario
November 7-10, 1913
250 dead

The Great Lakes have endured many fatal storms throughout the course of history. The Big Blow in 1913 however, still stands as one of the deadliest and most destructive in that area. Along with hundreds of fatalities and millions of dollars in damages, The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 also destroyed 19 ships and stranded 19 others. All in the course of three days.

7. The New Orleans and Texas Hurricane  of 1915

New Orleans, Louisiana, Galveston, Texas
September 30, August 5, 1915
275 dead

This hurricane killed 275 people and caused $13 million (1915 USD) in damages in 1915.

8. Florida Keys Hurricane

Florida, Texas
September 10 - 14, 1919
600 dead

The Florida Keys Hurricane, also referred to as Atlantic Gulf Hurricane, passed through Florida and Texas in 1919, killing between 600-900 people and causing $270 million worth of damages.

9. Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak

Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin
March 28, 1920
380 dead

The Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak consisted of no less than 38 different tornadoes as it pulled across the Midwest and several southern states. Lasting only 9 hours, this outbreak had several tornadoes reach a 4 on the F-Scale.

10. The Knickerbocker Storm

January 27 - 28, 1922
Upper South and Mid Atlantic States
98 dead

The name Knickerbocker was taken from the famous theater of the same name in Washington D.C that was destroyed in the storm. 133 people were injured, 98 killed.

11. The Tri-State Tornado

Missouri, Illinois and Indiana
March 18, 1925
+700 dead, $1.7 billion

This F5 tornado passed through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. The Tri-State Tornado is one of the biggest tornadoes ever to hit the U.S, killing more than 700 people and causing damages worth up to $1.4 billion.

12. The Great Miami Hurricane

Florida
September 18, 1926
373 dead, $1.2 billion (2009 USD)

The 1926 Miami Hurricane hit the city with immense force and is today considered a major cause for this region’s early descent into the Great Depression. Causing damages that today would have a estimated worth of $1.2 billion, this hurricane also took the lives of over 300 people.

13. Great Mississippi Flood

Mississippi
New Year’s Day of 1927
246 dead, $400 million

Heavy rains caused the flooding of the Mississippi river in the summer of 1927. Flooding 27,000 square miles, over 200 people were killed and $400 million lost in damages.

14. San Felipe-Okeechobee Hurricane

Florida
September 16 - 17, 1928
4078 dead, $1 billion

This monster of the Atlantic Hurricane season of 1928 raged across Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the state of Florida and the Leewards Islands, and in its wake killed more than 4000 people.

15. The Dust Bowl

Southern Plains
1930-1936(1940)
Millions affected

The Dust Bowl describes a period of three years when severe dust storms frequently hit the Southern Plains.

16. The Great Labor Day Storm

Florida
September 2, 1935
423 dead

The Labor Day Hurricane was measured as the strongest  during the Atlantic hurricane season of 1935.

17. The Great St. Patrick’s Day Flood

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 17 and 18, 1936
69 dead, $3 billion

High temperatures causing snow to melt along with heavy rains caused the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers to flood the banks of Pittsburgh.

18. The Tupelo Tornado

Tupelo, Mississippi
April 5, 1936
233 dead (survivor; one year old Elvis Presley)

The fourth deadliest tornado in U.S history, The Tupelo Tornado crushed the town of Tupelo with extreme force. One year old and rockstar to be, Elvis Presley was one of the survivors.

19. The Gainesville Tornado

Gainesville, Georgia
April 6, 1936
203 dead

The same storm system that devastated Tupedo, later moved through Alabama to the town of Gainesville in Georgia.

20. Ohio River flood of 1937

Ohio Mississippi Valley
January and February 1937
385 dead, $500 million (1937 USD)

The Ohio River flood of 1937 caused major devastation in loss of human lives and property damages.

21. The Los Angeles Flood

Los Angeles
February 27, 1938
115 dead, 5,601 homes destroyed

Heavy rains caused by a storm from the Pacific Ocean led to the flooding of Santa Ana, San Gabriel and Los Angele’s rivers.

22.The Long Island Express

North Carolina to New York
September 20 - 22, 1938
600 dead, 57,000 homes demolished

This was the biggest storm to hit New England in over 50 years. 57,000 homes were destroyed and over 600 people lost their lives.

23. Armistice Day Blizzard

Midwestern United States
November 11 - 12, 1940
154 dead

Among the total number of fatalities there were 49 deaths in Minnesota, half of which were hunters that had taken advantage of the weather, not expecting worsening conditions. Many of them had not properly dressed for such low temperatures and froze to death while sheltering from the storm. 2 people died in a train collision in the blizzard in Watkins, Minnesota. 13 fatalities were reported in Wisconsin, 4 in Michigan and 66 on Lake Michigan where three ships and one boat were caught up in the storm.

24. Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornadoes

Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas
April 9, 1947
181 dead

Hitting hardest in Oklahoma, this “Tri state tornado” destroyed over 100 city blocks in Woodward killing 181 people.

25. The Great Appalachian Storm

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
November 24-30, 1950
353 dead, $66.7 million (1950 USD)

Affecting over 22 states, this storm caused insurance companies to pay the largest sum ever,at the time, to cover damages caused by the Great Appalachian.

26. Great Flood of 1951

Kansas, Missouri
July 9-13, 1951
28 dead, $7 billion

Heavy rains caused the Kansas river to overflow in July 1951.

27. Waco Tornado

Texas
May 11, 1953
114 dead

This F5 tornado outbreak is particularly known for its heavy impact on the city of Waco, Texas.

28. Flint Tornado

Michigan
June 8, 1953
115 dead

The Flint-Worcester Tornado consisted of two tornadoes, hitting Flint, Michigan and Worcester, is registered as one of the worst storms in U.S history with 115 fatalities and over $2.6 billion in damages.

29. Hurricane Diane

August 17 - 19, 1955
Northeast coast from Virginia to New York
200 dead, $6.9 billion

Until Hurricane Betsy in 1965, Hurricane Diane was the costliest storm ever to have struck  the U.S,  hitting areas that would be struck by Hurricane Connie just five days later.

30. Hurricane Audrey

Texas and Louisiana
June 26, 1957
390 dead, $1 billion

Being the first hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season of 1957, Hurricane Audrey caused significant damage in both dollars and human fatalities.

31. Hurricane Donna

Florida to New England
September 8 - 13, 1960
364 dead, $6.5 billion

Hitting the east coast of the U.S, Hurricane Donna left several coastal states in miserable condition. 364 people died in direct connection to the hurricane.

32. Hurricane Carla

September 11, 1961
Texas
43 dead, $2 billion

Over 500,000 residents were evacuated and in effect, only 43 fatalities were reported. Hurricane Carla was and still is considered one of the worst storms to hit the state of Texas.

33. Good Friday earthquake

Alaska
Friday, March 27, 1964
131 dead, $2.08 billion

Causing buildings to collapse, tsunamis and fissures, the Good Friday earthquake directly caused 131 deaths. 8.4 on the Richter scale, this natural disaster is still considered one of the worst earthquakes in U.S history.

34. Hurricane Betsy - Billion Dollar Betsy

September 7 - 9, 1965
Southeast Florida, Southeast Louisiana
76 dead, $10.79 billion (2009 USD)

In 1965 Hurricane Betsy caused damages worth over $1 billion dollars, (1965 USD).

35. Hurricane Camille

August 17 - 22, 1969
Mississippi, SE Louisiana, Virginia
259 dead, $8.8 billion

In regards to strength, magnitude and pressure, Hurricane Camille was the second biggest hurricane storm system in U.S history.

36. Rapid City Flash Flood

Rapid City, SD
June 9 - 10, 1972
237 dead

At 10 pm June 9 River Creek overflowed due to heavy rainfall.

37. Hurricane Agnes

South and North Eastern United States
June 19 - 25, 1972
129 dead, $10.8 billion (2009 USD)

As the first hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season of 1972, Hurricane Agnes brought unforeseen damages to several U.S states.

38. The Super Outbreak

Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina
April 3-4, 1974
315-330 dead $3.5 billion

At least 148 tornadoes in over 13 states created the Super Outbreak of 1974. No larger 24 hour storm system has even been reported.

39. The Super Bowl Blizzard

January 9 - 12, 1975
Central and Southeast US
70 dead, $63 million (1975 USD)

The Great Storm of 1975 created not only heavy snowfall, but a total of 45 different tornadoes in warmer areas.

40.The Big Thompson

Loveland, CO
August 1, 1976
143 dead, $40 million (1976 dollars)

Caused by a thunderstorm, The Big Thompson canyon flash flood claimed the lives of 143 people, 5 of which which were never found.

41. The Blizzard of ’77

New York, Ontario
January 28 to February 1, 1977
23 dead

One of the largest snow storms ever to hit Buffalo, New York.

42. Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens, Washington State
May 18, 1980
57 dead

250 homes were destroyed, 57 people dead in the largest volcano eruption in  U.S history.

43. The 1980 United States Heat Wave

Midwest
Summer of 1980
1,700 dead, $55.4 billion

The summer of 1980 was one of the warmest and driest in U.S history as it claimed a total of 1,700 lives and caused over $55 billion is damages.

44. The Yellowstone Fires of 1988

Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
June, August, September, 1988
2 dead, $120 million

Yellowstone National Park has never seen a greater wildfire than the one burning down 793,880 acres in the summer of 1988.

45. Hurricane Hugo

September 22, 1989
Charleston, South Carolina
109 dead, $12.24 billion

Hurricane Hugo was measured a Category 5, leaving 100,000 homeless and killing a total of 109 people.

46. Quake of ‘89

California (San Francisco)
October 17, 1989
63 dead, $17.4 billion (2009 USD)

83 years after the 1906 earthquake that left  San Francisco in a state of emergency, yet another earthquake shook the city. Though the number of fatalities were significantly lower, the Quake of ‘89 still caused $17.4 billion (2009 USD) in damages.

47. The 1990 Plainfield Tornado

Illinois
August 28, 1990
29 dead, $165 million

Injuring 350 and killing 29, the Plainfield Tornado of 1990 tore through Illinois and was measured  a F5 tornado. 

48. Hurricane Andrew

August 24 - 28, 1992
Florida and Louisiana
65 dead, $43.672 billion

The second largest hurricane in U.S history of the 20th Century. It was measured a Category 5 hurricane, and tore across Florida and Louisiana taking 65 lives.

49. The Great Flood of 1993

Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
April - October 1993
50 dead, $15 billion

Considered the worst flood related natural disaster since the flooding of Mississippi river in 1927.  If measured by size and damage costs the flood of 93 is considered by some to be worse than the one in 1927.

50. The Storm of the Century

Hit 26 U.S states
March 11-15, 1993
300 dead, $6-10 billion

Stretching from Canada to Central America this storm took 300 lives and the cost of damages range from $6-10 Billion

51. The Northridge Earthquake

California
January 17, 1994
72 dead, $25 billion

52. 1995 Chicago heat wave

Illinois
July 12 to July 16, 1995
~150 dead

53. The Willamette Valley Flood

Oregon
January and mid-February, 1996
8 dead, $500 million

54. The Red River Flood of 1997

North Dakota, Minnesota
April 1997
0 dead, $3.5 billion

55. The Great Ice Storm of 1998

Ontario, New York, New England
January 4-10, 1998
35 dead, $5-7 billion (2005 USD)

Electric infrastructure was heavily damaged during the ice storm of 1988. Due to falling trees, complete cities were left without proper power supply.

56. Blizzard of 1999

Midwest
January 2 - 4, 1999
73 dead

Dropping more than two feet of snow in two days, communication was disrupted in many areas of the Midwest, and 75 lives were lost.

57. The 1999 Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak

Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Tennessee
May 3-6, 1999
48 dead, $1.9 billion (2007 USD)

This three day tornado outbreak eventually spawned 66 different tornadoes over Oklahoma.

58. The Biscuit Fire

Oregon and California
July 12 and July 15, 2002
O dead, 500,000 acres burned down

59. Hurricane Charley

August 13 - 14, 2004
Florida
35 dead, $18 billion

Hurricane Charley was measured as the second largest hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season 2004.

60. Hurricane Frances

Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina
August 24-September 10 2004
49 dead, $8.9 billion

Hurricane Frances was the third strongest hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season 2004.

61. Hurricane Ivan

Southeastern United States
September 16 - 24, 2004
123 dead, $14.2 billion

As the strongest hurricane of the treacherous Atlantic Hurricane season of  2004, Hurricane Ivan was quickly given the nickname Ivan The Terrible.

62. Hurricane Katrina

Louisiana
August 25 - 29, 2005
800 dead, $200 billion

The disaster in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is perhaps one of the most notorious national disasters of the 21st century. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Bush Administration were also highly criticized for their poor, and flawed, rescue work that followed.

63. Hurricane Rita

Arkansas, South Florida, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas
September 17-24, 2005
120 dead, $11 billion

Fifth largest hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season of 2005, Hurricane Rita tore through several southern states causing over $11 billion in damages.

64. The Evansville Tornado of November 2005

Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio
November 5-6, 2005
25 dead, $92 million

Taking the lives of 25 people and causing millions worth in damages, The Evansville Tornado was the worst tornado in the U.S during the year of 2005.

65. The Milford Flat Fire

Utah
Friday, July 6-15, 2007
2 dead, 329,000 acres burned down

Ignited by lightning on the morning of  July 6th , The Milford Flat fire was recorded as the greatest wildfire in Utah history.

66. The 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak

Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee
February 5–6, 2008
57 dead, $1 billion

The deadly tornadoes, given the name Super Tuesday as it coincided with primary elections, hit several U.S states.

67. Hurricane Ike

Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Ohio
September 1-14, 2008
~200 dead, $32 billion

Just last year, several U.S states suffered through the third most destructive hurricane ever to hit the United States. Hurricane Ike took the lives of at least 200 people.

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