The United States has not seen a major hurricane in almost 10 years, a
the phenomenon being termed "Hurricane Drought." The last major
hurricane to make landfall was Wilma, which struck the East Coast in
October 2005. Though lower-intensity hurricanes have continued causing
loss of life and property since, none of those qualified as Category 3
storms – wind speed of at least 110 mph – or above. As another hurricane
season draws close, let’s look at some of the deadliest hurricanes in
the history of the United States.
Great Galveston Hurricane, 1900
With a wind speed of 145 mph, this
hurricane qualified as a Category 4 storm. The hurricane struck the
coastal city of Galveston in Texas. One of the deadliest and costliest
storms in the history of the United States, it claimed approximately
8,000 lives and damaged property worth $20 million (in 1900 dollars).
Galveston Hurricane, 1915
Galveston fell prey to yet another major
hurricane just 15 years after the Great Hurricane struck. It was a major
Category 4 hurricane that generated waves reaching as high as 21 feet,
causing a great deal of destruction. It left about 400 people dead and
caused damages amounting to $50 million (in
Miami Hurricane, 1926
This Category 4 hurricane produced the
highest sustained wind speed ever recorded in the United States at the
time which led to a storm surge of nearly 15 feet high. The hurricane
ended the economic boom in South Florida and destroyed $78.5 million (in
1926 dollars) worth of properties—making it one of the costliest in
U.S. history. The death toll remains uncertain, since more than 800
people went missing after the cyclone. However, a Red Cross
International report says that 373 people died and 6,381 were injured.
San Felipe-Okeechobee Hurricane, 1928
It was a Category 5 hurricane that made
landfall near Palm Beach, Florida, causing heavy casualties and
destruction. The Lake Okeechobee area bore the major brunt, where the
lake surged six to nine feet, inundating the nearby locations and
killing 1,836 people. Other than that, 312 people died in Puerto Rico
and 18 deaths were reported from the Bahamas. Property worth $100
million (in 1928 dollars) was damaged in Florida.
Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane, 1935
When the Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane
reached Florida, it was a Category 5 hurricane. It created havoc and
ran through the Florida Keys before turning northward. It caused 408
deaths in the Florida Keys and damaged property worth $6 million (in
1935 dollars).
New England Hurricane, 1938
Also known as the "Long Island Express,"
it was first detected over the tropical Atlantic. Wind speeds were
measured between 121 mph to 183 mph, making it a Category 5 hurricane.
Heavy rain led to flooding along the Connecticut River, causing the loss
of 600 lives and property worth $308 million (in 1938 dollars).
Hurricane Hazel, 1954
This Category 4 hurricane led to high
winds in parts of the eastern United States. In North Carolina, wind
speeds were measured between 130 mph and 150 mph. A storm surge of up to
18 feet inundated portions of the North Carolina coast; 95 people were
killed and property worth $281 million (in 1954 dollars) were damaged.
Hurricane Carol, 1954
One of the worst hurricanes that
primarily affected New England, Hurricane Carol rampaged through North
Carolina and New York. Seventy-two deaths were reported and property
worth $462 million (in 1954 dollars) were destroyed by this Category 3
storm.
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