Deadly U.S. hurricanes of the 20th Century Tracking hurricanes
Since 1900, hurricanes have killed over 20,000 people in the United States alone. As more and more people look to set up lives along coastlines, the exodus for accurate hurricane forecasts becomes increasingly imperative.
Top 10 Deadliest Hurricanes of the 20th Century
| Number | Name (if any) | Year | Area affected | Deaths | Category on the Safir-Simpson Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | -- | 1900 | Galveston, TX | over 6,000 | 4 |
| 2 | -- | 1928 | Lake Okeechobee, FL | 1836 | 4 |
| 3 | -- | 1938 | New England | 600 | 4 |
| 4 | -- | 1935 | Florida Keys | 600 | 5 |
| 5 | Audrey | 1957 | Louisiana-Texas | 408 | 4 |
| 6 | -- | 1944 | New England | 390 | 4 |
| 7 | -- | 1909 | Louisiana | 350 | 4 |
| 8 | -- | 1915 | New Orleands, LA | 350 | 4 |
| 9 | -- | 1915 | Galveston, TX | 275 | 4 |
| 10 | Camille | 1969 | Mississsippi-Alabama; Virginia Tidewater | 275 | 5 |
Interesting and noteworthy hurricanes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was a minimal Category 1 hurricane whose winds barely reached 90 mph. However, Hurricane Agnes will be remembered as one of the most devestating hurricanes ever. Agnes was spawned in early June 1972 in the Bay of Campeche in the south ern reaches of the Gulf of Mexico. It spun north and crossed Florida.
In Florida, Agnes spawned many tornadoes which took the lives of over 20 Floridians. Agnes continued northward, which is where it ultimately caused most of its destruction. As Agnes moved ashore, it quickly weakened into a tropical storm. However, i ts forward speed slowed to a virtual crawl and it retained a tremendous amount of tropical moisture. The storm rained itself out over the mid-Atlantic states and the upstate of New York where it caused some of the most devestating flooding on record. Ci ties such as Scranton, PA, Johnstown, PA, Elmira, NY, Williamsport, PA, and Harrisburg, PA were devastated.
The total property damage associated with Agnes was estimated to be over $ 2 billion.
Hurricane Camille
Hurricane Camille was one of the strongest, most devestating hurricanes ever observed not just in the United States, but on the planet. Camille formed in the Caribbean Sea in early July 1969. It took a turn into the Gulf of Mexico and set its sights on the central Gulf Coast along the Mississippi-Alabama borders. Camille was the most recent category 5 hurricane to directly strike the mainland of the United States. Packing winds in excess of 212 mph, Camille crashed ashore in mid July 1969. The res ults along the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines were shear devestation. Very few buildings were left standing along the coastline. A storm surge more than 30 feet above normal swept inland several thousand yards.
When Camille moved inland, it weakened into a tropical storm and took a northeasterly path toward the Carolina-Virginia coastline. Once its center of circulation re-emerged over the Virginia tidewater area near Norfolk, it reintensified into a hurrica ne and its speed diminished to a near crawl. Camille once again was a force to be reckoned with. High winds (though not anywhere near the 212 mph that were observed with Camille along the gulf coast), extremely heavy rains, and tornadoes ravished the Vi rginia coastline and the loss of life was significant.
Hurricane Donna
Hurricane Donna was one of the more resilient hurricanes on record to impact the U.S. mainland. Donna formed in the Caribbean Sea in August 1960. It remains the only hurricane on record to impact every state along the east coast, from Florida to Main e, while maintaining hurricane status. The loss of life with Donna was significant nearly everywhere along its path. Donna also spawned significant tornadoes in the Carolinas. Donna almost reached category 5 status packing maximum winds of nearly 150 m ph.
Hurricane Gilbert
Hurricane Gilbert was a powerful category 5 hurricane that ravished Mexico and the Caribbean with nearly 200 mile per hour winds. Gilbert threatened the gulf coast, but never affected the U.S. mainland with anything more than high tides and some gusty winds in south Texas. Gilbert formed in the eastern Atlantic as a tropical depression off the west coast of Africa. It quickly intensified into a hurricane. Gilbert directly impacted the island nation of Jamaica and brought their tourism industry to a virtual standstill for almost 2 years. It continued westward into the Caribbean and struck the tourist islands of Cozumel and Cancun off of Mexican's Yucatan Peninsula. Damage observed in the category 5 force winds was extreme. Gilbert weakened slight ly as it passed over the Yucatan Peninsula, and never regained its category 5 status, however it did reintensify into a formidible category 4 storm. Gilbert provided U.S forecasters with a significant challenge as many expected it to curve more northerly . It maintained a beeline path toward Mexico's east-central coastline and impacted near Manzanilla where it caused devestating mudslides and flooding in one of Mexico's poorest regions.
Hurricane Hugo
Hugo was a strong category 3 (135 mph winds) hurricane that struck the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina a direct blow from a monsterous storm. Advanced warning and preparedness resulted in a fatality rate and damage totals that were much le ss severe than what could have otherwise been observed.
Hugo continued inland and weakened, however, its energy did not disappear. Hugo spawned tornadoes and caused wind damage from North Carolina to New York. The southern South Carolina coastline will not soon forget Hurricane Hugo.
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew will go down as one of the most memorable hurricanes in history. A category 4 hurricane that slammed into south Florida, Andrew's death and devestation made many Floridians take a long look at the dangers associated with living along the coastline. Andrew made impact near Homestead, Florida which is south of Miami. Powerful 140+ mph winds ravaged the region and ripped apart nearly every standing structure. Andrew remains to be the state of Florida's costliest natural disaster ever, however, had the storm impacted downtown Miami a mere 60 or so miles to the north, the death and destruction could have been several orders of magnitude higher.
After impacting south Florida, Andrew continued northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico and took aim on the southern Louisiana coastline. As a respectable Category 2 storm, Andrew slammed into the parishes of south Louisiana and claimed more lives and c aused more damage.
Tracking hurricanes
Fortunately, with the skill-level of present-day meteorologists and the modern equipment they have at their disposal, it is virtually impossible to be dealt an unsuspecting blow from a hurricane. Modern satellites track hurricanes in their earliest st ages of development allowing meteorologists to offer warning several days in advance of the approaching storm system. Also, as the storm gets closer to the coastline, Doppler radars allow meteorologists to pinpoint the location of the eye to within a few 100 meters.
Hurricane hunters
Once an area of tropical thunderstorm activity begins to take on typical characteristics suggesting its on its way toward hurricane development, the National Hurricane Center located in Coral Gables, sends out Hurricane Hunters who will fly into the storm to study its characteristics. Hurricane hunters fly in sturdy aircraft that can withstand the powerful winds and convection associated with hurricanes. Onboard the aircraft are several million dollars worth of sophisticated equipment such as radar which allow the meteorologists to take measurements and make observations up close and personal with the developing storm.
Hurricane safety
If a hurricane threatens your city, there are many precautions you can take that can save the lives of you and your family members:
Much more safety advice and specialized instructions will be offered to you in the event that a hurricane threatens your community.