Hurricanes are inevitable every year, but often it seems like they get deadlier with each passing season
Not all of them destroy, but the ones that will make the news and tell you how much damage they cause
Here are the 6 deadliest hurricanes ever recorded
Unfortunately, this trend of severe hurricanes is likely to continue due to climate change unless action is taken
Top 6 Most Destructive and Deadly Typhoons
Hurricanes are scary, and new storms make the “most devastating” list every year
Storm surge flooding often leads to billions in damage and accompanies major hurricanes to create more damage
It’s hard to quantify how much destruction a hurricane can leave behind in terms of emotional and financial damage, but this one stands out as the deadliest in history
1 The Great Hurricane of 1780 [More than 20,000 lives]
Between 20,000 and 22,000 people died across the Lesser Antilles when the storm hit them from October 10-16
The Great Hurricane of 1780 was one of the worst on record, claiming over 20,000 lives
However, we have oral and research records of this storm that devastated the Lesser Antilles
It struck the eastern Caribbean in October 1780, destroying property and claiming lives
2 Hurricane Mitch (1998) [Over 11,000 lives]
Hurricane Mitch was a symmetrical storm that brought strong winds far from the epicenter, causing widespread devastation
It made landfall in northern Honduras in October, late in the hurricane season, which may be why it was so alarming and unexpected
It caused more than 11,000 deaths in Central America (more than 7,000 in Honduras and 3,800 in Nicaragua), making it the second deadliest hurricane on record
https://wwwyoutubecom/watch?v=cpJqjtd0xvMVideo could not be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Storm Stories: Hurricane Mitch (https://wwwyoutubecom/watch?v=cpJqjtd0xvM)
In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch became one of the deadliest hurricanes in history
3 Typhoon Fifi (1974) [Over 8,000 lives]
It’s hard to believe that Cyclone Fifi started as a wave off the coast of Africa
Many countries felt the effects of Hurricane Fifi’s devastation, but Honduras was hit the hardest
In total, Typhoon Fifi claimed the lives of 8,000 victims and left a legacy that no one will ever forget
4 Galveston Hurricane (1900) [Over 6,000 lives]
The Great Galveston Hurricane was a Category 4 storm, with winds of up to 145 mph (233 km/h), that made landfall on September 8, 1900, in Galveston, Texas, in the United States, causing an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 deaths
It was the deadliest hurricane in US history
5 Hurricane Maria (2017) [Over 3,000 lives]
Hurricane Maria is the strongest to hit Puerto Rico
It is considered the deadliest Atlantic hurricane of the 21st century, with many still recovering from what was lost years ago
This typhoon caused thousands of deaths, directly and indirectly
https://wwwyoutubecom/watch?v=zNFnVIlE6cAVideo could not be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Puerto Rico island ‘destroyed’ by Hurricane Maria (https://wwwyoutubecom/watch?v= zNFnVIlE6cA)
Video: The island of Puerto Rico was “destroyed” by Hurricane Maria, the deadliest hurricane of the 21st century
6 Hurricane Katrina (2005) [Over 1,800 lives]
A view of flooded New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest hurricanes of the 21st century
Hurricane Katrina was just a tropical storm as it passed through the Caribbean
It only became a real hurricane when it reached the United States, leaving New Orleans devastated
Many people evacuated the area, but the storm left behind water that posed several health risks to New Orleans residents
Over time, recovery efforts are underway, and clean water and food have removed much of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction
Why Are Hurricanes Worse Recently?
Hurricanes have become more frequent in recent years
They are also becoming more dangerous, and you often hear of at least one each season that has caused major damage somewhere in the United States, along the Caribbean, or elsewhere
These dangerous storms are becoming more deadly due to climate change and human interference
The effects of climate change mean the world will see more frequent and dangerous hurricanes than ever before
The oceans are warming, and each hurricane will produce stronger winds and rain as it strengthens in warmer weather
Unfortunately, human interference caused by climate change has warmed the ocean beyond the surface
People’s actions made this storm worse, and while there may be no way to make things better, they can at least try to mitigate some of the damage caused by the storm
You should be aware of storm surges in your area and understand the dangers
Be aware that hurricanes can sometimes create tornadoes, so you should act with caution in any case, even if it looks safe outside
Prepare for Storms Ahead
If you look closely at storm patterns, you’ll know that hurricanes are getting more dangerous over time
Whether they take lives or cause billions of dollars in property damage, these storms are not to be taken lightly
Over time, perhaps humans can repair the damage done and hope for less deadly hurricanes
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