U.S. Natural Disasters Timeline

By marykateconway

  • Johnstown Flood

    Johnstown Flood
    There was a Southfork Dam that was upstream from Johnstown, Pennslyvania. After several days of heavy rainfall, the dam broke and released 20 million tons of water from the Lake Conmaugh resevoir which killed 2.209 and caused the U.S. over $17 million in damage.

  • Hurricane Galveston

    Hurricane Galveston
    This was a category 4 hurricane with estimated winds of 135 mph. An estimated 8,000 people died. This hurricane was at the time the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

  • Tri-State Tornado

    Tri-State Tornado
    Although this occured over only three and a half hours, this tornado was the deadliest that the U.S. has ever expierienced. IT passed all the way from southeastern Missouri, through southern Illinois, then into southwestern Indian and was the longest tornada track ever recorded in the world.Over 700 homes were demolished.

  • Hurricane Camille

    Hurricane Camille
    This was the second strongest U.S. hurricane in recorded history in terms of atmospheric pressure. It swept along the coast of Mississipi and through Florida and Virginia. It killed 259 people and had $1.42 billion in damages.

  • Great Appalachian Storm of 1950

    Great Appalachian Storm of 1950
    This was an extratropical cyclone that moved through the eastern region of the U.S. It caused heavy rains, strong winds, and blizzard conditions. Overall, the storm affected 22 states, killed 353 people, injured another 160, and caused over $66.7 million in damages.

  • Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami

    Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami
    This earthquake occured in Prince William Sound, Alaska and had a magnitude of 9.2. The earthquake lasted for 4.5 minutes and is the strongest U.S. earthquake recorded in U.S. history and the second most powerful earthquake globablly to be recorded.

  • The Super Outbreak

    The Super Outbreak
    This tornado outbreak lasted for a 24 hour period. It was the second largest tornado outbreak and the most violent ever recorded. There was 148 tornados in 13 states during this 24 hour period. This killed 324 people and caused over $600 million in damage costs.

  • 1980 United States Heatwave

    1980 United States Heatwave
    This heatwave went through most of the Midwestern United States and Southern Plains. It was one of the most deadly natural disasters in history of the U.S., killing atleast 1,700 people. Since there was intense drought, almost $20 billion of agricultural damage was reached.

  • Chicago Heat Wave of 1995

    Chicago Heat Wave of 1995
    This heat wave led to 739 deaths due to heat related causes over the course of a 5 day period. The temperate high was 106 degrees, which was the second highest temperature recorded in the United States.

  • Hurricane Katrina

    Hurricane Katrina
    This hurricane was one of the costliest natural disasters, one of the five deadliest hurricanes, and is currently ranked as the third most intense United States landfalling tropical cyclone. Over 1,245 people died and there was $108 billion in property damages.