Hurricanes are among the most powerful and destructive natural disasters, leaving a path of devastation in their wake like Milton did. In the United States, these storms have caused widespread damage, loss of life, and massive recovery efforts.
From the storm surge of Hurricane Katrina to the fierce winds of Hurricane Andrew, these events have left lasting marks on the nation’s history. This article explores the ten worst hurricanes ever to hit the U.S., examining their impact on communities, the staggering costs, and the lessons learned in their aftermath.
1. Galveston Hurricane – 1900
The Galveston Hurricane of 1900, also known as the Great Galveston Storm, remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Striking the Texas Gulf Coast on September 8, 1900, it devastated the city of Galveston with winds estimated at 140 miles per hour and a storm surge that inundated much of the island. The storm caught residents by surprise, as there were limited forecasting tools at the time.
Over 8,000 people were killed, and the city was almost entirely leveled. The Galveston Hurricane led to significant changes in how cities prepared for hurricanes, including the construction of the Galveston seawall, but its toll on lives and infrastructure remains a sobering reminder of nature’s power.
2. Florida Keys Hurricane – 1919
Also known as the “Atlantic Gulf Hurricane” and the “1919 Key West Hurricane”, the hurricane began forming on September 2nd and finally made landfall in Key West, Florida on September 9th. The tropical cyclones sank 10 ships in the Florida Straits and destroyed countless homes, factories, and schools in the affected areas.
The Florida Keys Hurricane officially claimed a total of 287 lives, but the actual number was believed to be as high as 600. Wind speeds were reported to have reached 150 miles per hour by September 10.
3. Great Miami Hurricane – 1926
The third worst hurricane in American history is considered to be the Great Miami Hurricane. The tropical cyclone made landfall in Miami on September 18, 1926, and caused staggering damage to many buildings and tourist attractions in several areas, including Alabama, the Bahamas, and the Florida Panhandle.
News agencies reported an official death toll of 373, but it is believed that nearly 800 people were injured. The damage was said to be $105 million in 1926, which is estimated to be $157 billion in the current currency.
4. Okeechobee Hurricane – 1928
The Okeechobee Hurricane, also known as the San Felipe-Segundo Hurricane, struck South Florida as a Category 4 tropical cyclone on September 16, 1928. The official death toll from this catastrophic event was 2,500, but it is believed that as many as 4,078 people were killed.
The storm was reported to have strengthened to Category 5 before hitting Puerto Rico. Fortunately, Puerto Ricans were well mitigated, which resulted in limiting the death toll to about 300. According to the National Geographic site, many victims around Lake Okeechobee perished in the Everglades and were never found.
The remains of hundreds of victims’ bodies were buried in a mass grave in the city’s cemetery. The grave was soon reclaimed by the city in 2000 as a memorial to the massive tragedy.
5. Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane – 1935
As the name suggests, the 1935 Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane was a tropical cyclone. This is the first category 5 storm ever recorded in the United States in the 20th century. It killed at least 408 people, most of them World War I veterans working on a railroad between the Keys and Florida.
In the village of Islamorada in Florida’s Upper Keys, a monument made of Keys limestone commemorates the catastrophic weather event. The monument was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
6. New England Hurricane – 1938
The Great New England Hurricane, also known as the Long Island Express and the Yankee Clipper, killed 600 people, destroyed up to 8,900 buildings, and flattened more than 2 billion trees. This massive tropical cyclone caused an estimated $308 million in damage due to the lack of warning.
There were several weather forecasts for the hurricane on September 19, 1938. The storm traveled 425 miles in less than eight hours and arrived at an extremely high tide.
10. Hurricane Donna – 1960
Hurricane Donna tops the list of the worst hurricanes ever to hit the United States, maintaining hurricane status for approximately 17 days. This Category 4 storm battered the Florida Keys and produced powerful storm surges. The highest storm surge recorded was 13 feet, causing 50 deaths in the United States and 114 deaths between the Leeward Islands and the Bahamas.
8. Hurricane Andrew – 1992
Hurricane Andrew is one of the worst hurricanes on record, causing massive destruction across Florida, with 63,000 homes reportedly damaged in the tragedy. While the tropical cyclone was classified as a Category 5 hurricane, there has been much debate about the property damage.
7. Hurricane Katrina – 2005
Hurricane Katrina, which struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in August 2005, is one of the most devastating and costly natural disasters in American history. As a Category 5 storm in the Gulf of Mexico, it weakened slightly to a Category 3 by the time it made landfall, but its sheer size and power caused catastrophic damage, especially in New Orleans.
The storm surge breached levees protecting the city, flooding 80% of New Orleans and displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. More than 1,800 people lost their lives, and the economic cost was estimated at over $160 billion. The disaster exposed failures in emergency response and infrastructure, leading to widespread criticism of government handling and sparking major reforms in disaster preparedness and relief efforts. Hurricane Katrina remains a symbol of both nature’s fury and the importance of resilient infrastructure.
9. Hurricane Sandy – 2012
Hurricane Sandy was a catastrophic weather phenomenon that left extensive damage in several areas of the United States such as New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The hurricane caused the closure of the New York Stock Exchange for two business days.
10 Hurricane Milton
A powerful storm from the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, intensified rapidly into a Category 5 storm over the Gulf of Mexico. Fueled by record-high ocean temperatures, it became one of the strongest hurricanes on record for the region, with peak winds reaching 180 mph.
Milton made landfall near Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread devastation, including storm surges, power outages, and significant damage to infrastructure. It is considered one of the most destructive storms to hit Florida in recent history.