Worst U.S. Natural Disasters
July 31, 2008
Plan as we might, man is usually at a competitive disadvantage when the planet does its worst.
Earthquakes strike, seemingly out of nowhere. Tornadoes spin off from sudden storms. Rivers rise, levees fail, and cities and towns flood.
Hurricane Katrina reminded us of man’s fragile state in 2005, and the floods that drenched Iowa in the summer of 2008 brought home the point again.
What are the worst natural disasters ever on U.S. soil? LiveScience took a stab at assembing a list. They settled on 10.
Here are the bottom 5:
10. Tri-State Tornado, March 18, 1925
9. Peshtigo Fire, October 8, 1871
8. Johnstown Flood, May 31, 1889
7. Heat Wave of 1988, Summer of 1988
6. Heat Wave of 1980, Summer of 1980
To read about these disasters, and to find out about the rest, visit LiveScience.
