10 Worst Hurricanes Ever in the US, Shocking!

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The worst hurricanes ever occurred in many tropical areas around the world, including the United States. Many news outlets reported the damage caused by certain hurricanes, indicating their enormous power. 

10 Worst Hurricanes Ever in the U.S. 

This article reveals the top ten worst hurricanes ever in the United States, including the material damage they caused, according to Reuters and the National Geographic site. 

1. Galveston Hurricane - 1900 

The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 was the worst hurricane ever to hit the United States, causing the loss of 8,000 lives and material damage to 3,600 buildings. The hurricane occurred on September 8, 1900, with winds exceeding 145 mph. 

This 4-storm category hurricane caused over $20 million in damage in the 1900s. According to the National Geographic site, the damage is estimated at $78 million in today's economy. Some reports even stated that as many as 12,000 lives were lost in this disaster.

2. Florida Keys Hurricane - 1919 

Also known as the "Atlantic Gulf Hurricane" and the "1919 Key West Hurricane", the hurricane began forming on September 2nd and finally made landfall in Key West, Florida on September 9th. The tropical cyclones sank 10 ships in the Florida Straits and destroyed countless homes, factories, and schools in the affected areas.

The Florida Keys Hurricane officially claimed a total of 287 lives, but the actual number was believed to be as high as 600. Wind speeds were reported to have reached 150 miles per hour by September 10. 

3. Great Miami Hurricane - 1926 

The third worst hurricane in American history is considered to be the Great Miami Hurricane. The tropical cyclone made landfall in Miami on September 18, 1926, and caused staggering damage to many buildings and tourist attractions in several areas, including Alabama, the Bahamas, and the Florida Panhandle. 

News agencies reported an official death toll of 373, but it is believed that nearly 800 people were injured. The damage was said to be $105 million in 1926, which is estimated to be $157 billion in the current currency.  

4. Okeechobee Hurricane - 1928 

The Okeechobee Hurricane, also known as the San Felipe-Segundo Hurricane, struck South Florida as a Category 4 tropical cyclone on September 16, 1928. The official death toll from this catastrophic event was 2,500, but it is believed that as many as 4,078 people were killed. 

The storm was reported to have strengthened to Category 5 before hitting Puerto Rico. Fortunately, Puerto Ricans were well mitigated, which resulted in limiting the death toll to about 300. According to the National Geographic site, many victims around Lake Okeechobee perished in the Everglades and were never found. 

The remains of hundreds of victims' bodies were buried in a mass grave in the city's cemetery. The grave was soon reclaimed by the city in 2000 as a memorial to the massive tragedy. 

5. Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane - 1935 

As the name suggests, the 1935 Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane was a tropical cyclone. This is the first category 5 storm ever recorded in the United States in the 20th century. It killed at least 408 people, most of them World War I veterans working on a railroad between the Keys and Florida. 

In the village of Islamorada in Florida's Upper Keys, a monument made of Keys limestone commemorates the catastrophic weather event. The monument was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1995. 

6. New England Hurricane - 1938 

The Great New England Hurricane, also known as the Long Island Express and the Yankee Clipper, killed 600 people, destroyed up to 8,900 buildings, and flattened more than 2 billion trees. This massive tropical cyclone caused an estimated $308 million in damage due to the lack of warning. 

There were several weather forecasts for the hurricane on September 19, 1938. The storm traveled 425 miles in less than eight hours and arrived at an extremely high tide. 

7. Hurricane Katrina - 2005

Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to hit the United States, claiming a staggering 1,836 lives and displacing at least one million people. Total property damage reached approximately $81 billion.

The tropical cyclone first struck southern Florida as a Category 1 hurricane and soon grew to a Category 5 hurricane as it entered the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. 

8. Hurricane Andrew - 1992 

Hurricane Andrew is one of the worst hurricanes on record, causing massive destruction across Florida, with 63,000 homes reportedly damaged in the tragedy. While the tropical cyclone was classified as a Category 5 hurricane, there has been much debate about the property damage. 

9. Hurricane Sandy - 2012 

Hurricane Sandy was a catastrophic weather phenomenon that left extensive damage in several areas of the United States such as New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The hurricane caused the closure of the New York Stock Exchange for two business days. 

10. Hurricane Donna - 1960 

Hurricane Donna tops the list of the worst hurricanes ever to hit the United States, maintaining hurricane status for approximately 17 days. This Category 4 storm battered the Florida Keys and produced powerful storm surges. The highest storm surge recorded was 13 feet, causing 50 deaths in the United States and 114 deaths between the Leeward Islands and the Bahamas. 

NASA reported some of the worst hurricanes ever to hit the United States occurred in September, the official period of the hurricane season. 

Reuters | National Geographic

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