Hurricane Katrina, 2005
Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating hurricanes to ever hit the United States. It made landfall on August 29, 2005, in Louisiana, causing catastrophic damage in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. The storm caused extensive flooding and left over 1,800 people dead, making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. I was in Long Beach, MS when this hurricane hit. My house was about 200 feet from the water. My dad didn't think it was gonna be bad, ha! We almost died in our attic, and my neighbors drowned.
I was only two when this storm hit the Gulf Coast, and I still remember my dad waking me up before the storm and water rushing into the house. My house actually collapsed on the left side, but my dad's tractor held it up. If it wasn't for that tractor, I would be dead. Hurricane Katrina was the worst experience of my life.
I don't know what it was like during Katrina, but I read about it and it sounds awful.
Hurricane Harvey, 2017
Hurricane Harvey was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017. It caused catastrophic flooding in Houston and other parts of southeast Texas, leading to the displacement of over 30,000 people and causing an estimated $125 billion in damages. What was bad about Harvey is the fact that it stayed in place for days, dumping over 50 inches of rain over Houston and surrounding areas. The costliest hurricane in the US since Katrina.
This storm tied with Katrina as the costliest Atlantic hurricane. It deserved retirement.
The flooding... Does Houston exist anymore?
Hurricane Maria, 2017
Hurricane Maria was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. It caused extensive damage to the island, leading to widespread power outages and a humanitarian crisis. The storm resulted in an estimated 2,975 deaths and caused over $90 billion in damages. No power for over two months in my case (although I know people who didn't have power for 156 days, literally). No water running for almost the same time (and when we actually got it, we were forced to reduce its use due to rationing) and no signal in most of the island (my family and I had to drive to another town for signal to communicate with our loved ones).
In my case, I was able to get full signal back in about a month because we moved. We actually had to move because where we used to live was devastated, plus getting actual food was impossible. My family and I ate canned sausages for weeks because there was nothing else. Ice was impossible to get, and the lines for it (like the ones for getting gasoline) were infinite.
We literally had to drive there at midnight to try and be the first ones there, and somehow there was always someone there already. We spent literally half a day in line just for fuel and food. It was horrible.
Hurricane Mitch, 1998
Hurricane Mitch was a Category 5 hurricane that struck Central America in October 1998. It caused widespread destruction, particularly in Honduras and Nicaragua, resulting in an estimated 11,000 deaths and over $6 billion in damages. The storm was one of the deadliest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin.
Hurricane Andrew, 1992
Hurricane Andrew was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Florida on August 24, 1992. It caused extensive damage, with an estimated $27 billion in damages and 65 deaths. The storm is particularly notable for its impact on the city of Homestead, which was nearly destroyed by the hurricane. Don't know much of what happened, but the evacuation was bad in my area. I think one area took a long time to recover, but I'm not completely sure.
It's sad because my name is Andrew. I really hate when people tease me about this.
Hurricane Irma, 2017
Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in the Caribbean and Florida in September 2017. It caused widespread destruction and resulted in over $50 billion in damages. The storm caused 134 deaths, including 92 in the United States. Also, Irma only made landfall as a low Category 4 on the Keys, 2 days and 7 hours after its final time at 185 mph strength. While there was a lot of flooding, a lot of fear, and many lives ruined, there have, believe it or not, been worse.
Slightly worse than Harvey to me. I mean, Category 4, and potentially for very few, a brutal 5. Dear Lord.
A cat 5. A CAT 5.
When it comes to storm power, Harvey and Katrina were child's play.
The Great Galveston Hurricane, 1900
The Great Galveston Hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900. It is the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, with an estimated death toll of between 6,000 and 12,000 people. The storm caused massive destruction, with over 3,600 homes destroyed and a third of the city's population left homeless. Indubitably the deadliest and clearly the worst hurricane ever! It changed Galveston's history forever and killed an estimated 8,000 people! While Katrina cost the most out of any hurricane ever, and though 2,000 people died in Katrina, making it overall worse, one could argue that life is invaluable, therefore superseding any financial loss.
This one should be number one.
If you haven't heard about it, you need to.
How is this not number one? It was the deadliest hurricane in history!
Hurricane Sandy, 2013
Hurricane Sandy was a Category 3 hurricane that struck the eastern United States in October 2012. The storm caused extensive damage in New York and New Jersey, resulting in 159 deaths and over $68 billion in damages. Sandy is notable for its impact on New York City, where it caused massive flooding and power outages. I say Superstorm/Hurricane Sandy is the worst hurricane ever. It was like a bucking bronco that just never got tired. It only got more powerful. More powerful and more deadly. Bad old Sandy deserves to be retired.
It should be in the top 3.
Seaside Heights, NJ got the worst of it.
The Great Hurricane of 1780
The Great Hurricane of 1780 was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Caribbean in October 1780. It is the deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record, with an estimated death toll of between 22,000 and 27,500 people. The storm caused catastrophic damage to the islands of Barbados, St. Lucia, and Martinique. The deadliest hurricane in the Atlantic basin. It caused an estimated 22,000 to 27,000 fatalities.
This was worse than the Galveston Hurricane and Hurricane Mitch.
Hurricane Florence, 2018
Hurricane Florence was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in North Carolina in September 2018. It caused extensive flooding and wind damage, resulting in 53 deaths and over $24 billion in damages. The storm caused significant damage to the Carolinas and Virginia, particularly in coastal areas. May have been a Category 1 at landfall, but it stalled, like Harvey, and it has killed around 20 people so far.
The Newcomers
? Hurricane Milton, 2024
Yet another devastating hurricane in the US. This was a monstrous Category 5 storm (and the strongest in the Gulf since Rita in 2005) that hit Florida about as hard as Ian did two years prior.
It made landfall in Siesta Key and badly affected the Tampa Bay area, Sarasota, and even areas impacted by Ian, especially Fort Myers. It killed around 35 people and caused approximately $85 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest storms in history.
? Hurricane Dorian, 2019
Hurricane Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Bahamas in September 2019. It caused catastrophic damage, particularly on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, resulting in 74 deaths and over $3.4 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in North Carolina, particularly in the Outer Banks. It caused damage from Barbados to Newfoundland.
The Contenders
Hurricane Michael, 2018
Hurricane Michael was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in the Florida Panhandle in October 2018. It caused extensive damage, particularly in the cities of Panama City and Mexico Beach, resulting in 74 deaths and over $25 billion in damages. The storm was the strongest hurricane on record to hit the Florida Panhandle. I was praying for everyone in the panhandle to make sure they came out of that monster storm alive. To make my friends not cry anymore about their loved ones in the panhandle, I started making dark humor jokes about Hurricane Michael and Andrew. It cheered them up, and I was glad to make them happy, but even I felt terrible after I saw the aftermath that Michael had left in the panhandle.
While Andrew and Irma were worse for Florida as a whole, Michael was the worst storm to affect the areas it destroyed.
Hurricane Ike, 2008
Hurricane Ike was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Texas on September 13, 2008. It caused extensive damage, particularly in the cities of Galveston and Houston, resulting in 112 deaths and over $29 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. This hurricane hit Houston head-on as a Category 2-3, and since it was my first hurricane, it was kinda scary. The worst parts? It struck us all at night, and there were these winds that sounded just like high-pitched tornadoes all around where I live, sounding not too far away at all and bearing down on me as I sat there listening to them.
Yeah, sure, it was very cool to be in a hurricane, but now since Harvey is here, I kinda don't want to be in a hurricane or very near one ever again. It sucks. Truly does. Plus, the worst thing is that everyone goes ballistic with, "Oh no! The world is ending!" Crap.
Hurricane Hugo, 1989
Hurricane Hugo was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in South Carolina on September 21, 1989. It caused extensive damage, particularly in Charleston, resulting in 49 deaths and over $10 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Hurricane David, 1979
Hurricane David was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Caribbean in August 1979. It caused extensive damage in the Dominican Republic, resulting in over 2,000 deaths and $1.5 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in Martinique and Guadeloupe. 2,000+ dead in the Caribbean. The WMO made a great choice retiring this name, though I'm not a huge fan of its replacement, Danny (no offense intended).
Hurricane Rita, 2005
Hurricane Rita was a Category 3 hurricane that struck Texas and Louisiana in September 2005. It caused extensive damage, particularly in the cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur, resulting in 120 deaths and over $18 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in the Florida Keys.
Hurricane Gilbert, 1988
Hurricane Gilbert was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Caribbean and Mexico in September 1988. It caused extensive damage, resulting in over 300 deaths and $7.1 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in Jamaica and Honduras. The most intense hurricane in the Atlantic basin at the time.
Hurricane Nate, 2017
Hurricane Nate was a Category 1 hurricane that made landfall in Louisiana on October 7, 2017. The storm caused flooding and power outages in several states along the Gulf Coast, resulting in 46 deaths and over $1 billion in damages. Costliest hurricane to hit Costa Rica, even if Joan was worse for the country at the time.
Hurricane Hazel, 1954
Hurricane Hazel was a Category 4 hurricane that struck the eastern United States and Canada in October 1954. It caused extensive damage, particularly in Toronto, resulting in 95 deaths and over $300 million in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in North Carolina and Virginia. It could have killed over 1,000 people.
Hurricane Matthew, 2016
Hurricane Matthew was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Caribbean and southeastern United States in October 2016. It caused extensive damage in Haiti, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and $1.9 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Being the dumbest kid I was, I decided to hide under my covers and thought that a Category 3 hurricane was going to kill me. But I knew how much damage it caused for Haiti and areas that had been affected, so I still send my prayers to those affected by this hurricane.
Hurricane Iniki, 1992
Hurricane Iniki was a Category 4 hurricane that hit the Hawaiian Islands in September 1992. It caused extensive damage, particularly on the island of Kauai, resulting in six deaths and over $3 billion in damages. Iniki was the strongest hurricane to hit Hawaii in over a century at the time.
Hurricane Wilma, 2005
Hurricane Wilma was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Yucatan Peninsula and Florida in October 2005. It caused extensive damage, particularly in the cities of Cancun and Cozumel, resulting in 87 deaths and over $29 billion in damages. The storm also caused significant damage in Cuba and the Bahamas I never lived through this hurricane, but I did hear stories about my grandmother's door almost falling down due to how strong Wilma's winds were. My aunts, working at the corner store, quickly ran home and tried to help keep the door intact before the wind knocked it down.
The most intense hurricane in the Atlantic basin.
Hurricane Isabel, 2003
Hurricane Isabel was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the eastern United States in September 2003. The storm caused extensive damage, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina, resulting in 16 deaths and over $3 billion in damages. Isabel was notable for its high storm surge and widespread power outages. Hurricane Isabel was one of the costliest hurricanes of all time. With winds up to 168 mph, it hit over 20 cities.
Hurricane Ivan, 2004
Hurricane Ivan was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Caribbean and southeastern United States in September 2004. The storm caused extensive damage, resulting in 124 deaths and over $23 billion in damages. Ivan was notable for its destructive storm surge and widespread power outages. Easily the most destructive storm of 2004 in terms of damage caused and how widespread it was. Although, can someone add Jeanne of 2004 as well? She killed over 3,000 people in Haiti alone.
Hurricane Camille, 1969
Hurricane Camille was a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast of the United States in August 1969. It caused significant damage, resulting in 259 deaths and over $1.4 billion in damages. Camille was notable for its high storm surge and destructive winds.
Hurricane Ingrid, 2013
Hurricane Ingrid was a Category 1 hurricane that struck eastern Mexico in September 2013. It caused significant flooding and landslides, resulting in 34 deaths and over $1 billion in damages. Ingrid made landfall shortly after Hurricane Manuel hit the same region, resulting in one of the deadliest hurricane seasons in Mexican history.