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An earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, triggering tsunamis that swept through the coastal regions of a dozen countries bordering the Indian Ocean.
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This was the largest and 3rd strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall in the US. In New Orleans, the levees were designed for Category 3, but Katrina peaked at a Category 5 hurricane, with winds up to 175 mph. It caused $81 billion in property damages, but it is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may exceed $150 billion, earning the title of costliest hurricane ever in US history. Hurricane Katrina impacted about 90,000 square miles.
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More than 230,000 people were killed when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti.
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Hurricane Sandy, also known as the Superstorm Sandy, was a Category 3 hurricane that first hit Cuba on October 25. It had first formed over the western Caribbean Sea on October 22, and gradually strengthened as it moved toward Greater Antilles.
