Hurricane: Past Incidents
Fortunately, tropical cyclones that inflict massive damage do not come often. However, the handful of destructive cyclones that resulted in the death of thousands or damage of billions of dollars cannot be ignored. Here is a quick look at some notable tropical cyclones:
- 1900
- The Galveston Hurricane hit Galveston, Texas and was the undisputed greatest natural disaster in the United States until Hurricane Katrina. This hurricane killed 8,000 to 12,000 people and sparked Galveston to raise the level of the entire city and build a seawall.
- November 13, 1970
- The most lethal tropical cyclone hit the present day Bangladesh’s Ganges Delta area and killed around 500,000 people. Since 1900, there have been three storms that killed more than 100,000 people in Bangladesh.
- 1987
- , Typhoon Tip in northwestern Pacific Ocean became the most intense storm on record. Its wind speeds reached 305 km/h (190 mph). Luckily, its strength diminished before making landfall in Japan. This hurricane is also the largest tropical cyclone on record with a diameter of 2,170 km (1,350 mi).
- 1998
- Hurricane Mitch caused severe flooding and mudslides in Honduras, killing around 18,000 people. This hurricane was so devastating to the physical landscape that new maps ha to be created to accurately depict the coastlines of the country.
- 2001
- Tropical Storm Allison became one of the most damaging storms despite not ever becoming a hurricane. It killed 41 people and caused over US$5 billion damage in East Texas.
- August 29, 2005
- Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi. It is now the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, killing more than 1,300 people and causing US$40 to $120 billion in damages.
Sources Consulted
Sources
- Holland, G.J. ): "Ready Reckoner" - Chapter 9, Global Guide to Tropical Cyclone Forecasting, WMO/TC-No. 560, Report No. TCP-31, World Meteorological Organization; Geneva, Switzerland. <http://www.bom.gov.au/bmrc/pubs/tcguide/globa_guide_intro.htm>
- "Hurricanes." Wikipedia. 17 Feb 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane>
- Pielke, Jr., Roger A., and Roger A. Pielke, Sr. Hurricanes: Their Nature and Impacts on Society. 1997.
- "Tropical Storm Tracks: Yearly Summaries." Tropical Storms: Yearly Summaries. 19 Feb. 2006. <http://www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/summary.html>
