Hurricanes are inevitable every year, but they often seem to become more deadly with each passing season.
Not all of them are destructive, but the ones that do will make the news and let you know how much damage they caused.
These 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.
The 6 Most Destructive and Deadliest Hurricanes
Hurricanes are scary, and new storms make the “most destructive” list every year.
Storm surge flooding often results in billions in damage and is accompanied by major hurricanes to create even more damage.
It’s hard to determine how much devastation a hurricane can leave behind in terms of emotional and financial damage, but these are the ones that stand out as the deadliest in history.
1. The Great Hurricane of 1780 [Over 20,000 lives]
Between 20,000 and 22,000 people died throughout the Lesser Antilles when the storm passed through them from October 10-16.
The Great Hurricane of 1780 is one of the worst ever recorded, 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, damaging property and killing.
2. Hurricane Mitch (1998) [Over 11,000 lives]
Hurricane Mitch was a symmetrical storm that contained strong winds far from its epicentre, causing destruction in its general area.
It made landfall in northern Honduras in October, late in hurricane season, and perhaps that is why it was so frightening and unexpected.
It caused over 11,000 deaths in Central America (more than 7,000 in Honduras and 3,800 in Nicaragua), making it the deadliest hurricane on record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpJqjtd0xvMVideo cannot be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Storm Stories: Hurricane Mitch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpJqjtd0xvM)
In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch became one of the deadliest hurricanes in history.
3. Hurricane Fifi (1974) [Over 8,000 lives]
It’s hard to believe that Hurricane Fifi was just a wave off the coast of Africa.
Many countries felt the consequences of Hurricane Fifi’s destruction, but Honduras was hit the hardest.
Overall, Hurricane Fifi claimed the lives of 8,000 victims and left a legacy that no one would 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), which made landfall on September 8, 1900, in Galveston, Texas, in the United States, leaving approximately 6,000 to 12,000 in die
It was the deadliest hurricane in US history.
5. Hurricane Maria (2017) [Over 3,000 lives]
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico the strongest.
It is considered the deadliest Atlantic hurricane of the 21st century, with many people still recovering from what was lost years ago.
This hurricane caused thousands of deaths, directly and indirectly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNFnVIlE6cAVideo cannot be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: The island of Puerto Rico ‘destroyed’ by Hurricane Maria (https://www.youtube.com/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 following 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 miserable.
Many people evacuated the area, but the storm left behind water that posed several health risks to New Orleans residents.
Over time, recovery efforts were underway, and clean water and food washed away much of Hurricane Katrina’s damage.
Why are hurricanes worse lately?
Hurricanes have become more frequent in recent years.
They have also become more dangerous, and you often hear about at least one every season that has caused massive damage somewhere in the United States, along the Caribbean, or elsewhere.
These dangerous storms are growing deadlier due to climate change and human intervention.
The effects of climate change mean that the world will see more frequent and dangerous hurricanes than in the past.
The oceans are warming, and each hurricane will be made of more powerful winds and rainfall as they grow stronger in warmer weather.
Unfortunately, human intervention caused by climate change has warmed the oceans beyond the surface.
Human actions make these storms 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 storms.
You should be aware of storm surges in your area and understand their dangers.
Be aware that tornadoes can sometimes create tornadoes, so you should act with caution in any situation, even when it seems safe outside.
Prepare for Hurricanes in Advance
If you watch storm patterns closely, you’ll know that hurricanes become more dangerous over time.
Whether they take human lives or cause billions of dollars in property damage, these storms cannot be taken lightly.
Over time, humanity may be able to repair the damage it has done and hope for less deadly hurricanes.
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