Unfortunately, many hurricanes have threatened the United States over the years, and each of them has caused chaos across many states. Whether we are talking about financial damage, the loss of loved ones, and the general state of health affected, all these things are consequences of strong storms in which the wind and floods reach their maximum levels, and unluckily, we can’t say exactly whether or not they will come back here in the future.

First and foremost, you have to remember that the deaths caused by hurricanes aren’t actually produced by the speed of the winds, but by the storm surge and flooding. Thus, if a hurricane seems mild, it doesn’t mean that it can’t hurt you. In fact, the deadliest hurricanes in the United States had a lower wind speed. In other words, a weak hurricane that moves slowly and drops a lot of flood water can wreak havoc more than a high intensity hurricane.

For instance, hurricanes Katrina and Harvey killed about 2,000 people and left many individuals on the street after destroying their houses; to be more specific, the devastation rang in at $250 billion. However, you should never underestimate the power of a hurricane no matter their intensity – don’t forget that they can all be deadly. 

So, here are some of the most horrifying and destructive hurricanes in the history of the United States! Read on to find out more info and stay safe!

Hurricane Rita

• Year: 2005
• Damage: $18.5 billion
• Intensity: Category 5
• Places affected: Cuba, Texas, Louisiana

According to experts, Hurricane Rita was the most intense tropical cyclone observed in the Gulf of Mexico and the 4th most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. Also, Rita was the 5th major hurricane of the 2005 season and its average wind speed was 180 mph (285 km/h) earning the Category 5 status at the same time. 

The storm surge of Hurricane Rita inundated a lot of communities in Louisiana. Moreover, the disaster continued in various parts of Louisiana and Southeast Texas where Rita made landfall and caused terrible catastrophes due to flooding and wind. According to the Disaster Center, about 4,500 single family dwellings were destroyed in Southeast Texas and approximately 40,000 single family houses suffered minor damage. 

In other words, Hurricane Rita caused $18.5 billion in damages and 120 deaths in four U.S. states. It seems that there was only 7 direct death caused by this hurricane, meaning that they were produced by the effects of wind, flooding, tornadoes and storm surge, while others were caused by hurricane-related accidents. 

Hurricane Charley

• Year: 2004
• Damage: $16.9 billion
• Intensity: Category 4
• Places affected: Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, The Carolinas

Hurricane Charley was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States. Experts say that it was the second major hurricane of the 2004 season. With its peak intensity reaching 150 mph (240 km/h), Hurricane Charley was on its way to cause nearly $16 billion in damages and more than 15 direct deaths and 25 indirect deaths. 

It made landfall in Southwest Florida at maximum strength and moved slowly to Cuba and other American regions mentioned above. Unfortunately, Charley severely affected the state of Florida and caused about 9 direct deaths, 20 indirect fatalities and a lot of other injuries, namely that property damage was $5.4 billion and agricultural damage was estimated at $285 million.

Hurricane Irene

• Year: 2011
• Damage: $16 billion
• Intensity: Category 3
• Places affected: The Caribbean, United States East Coast, Eastern Canada

According to experts, Hurricane Irene was the first major Atlantic hurricane of the 2011 season and the 8th most destructive hurricane in the United States history. Unfortunately, this hurricane severely affected the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States in August 2011. The first landfall of Irene was in St. Croix and the second in Puerto Rico. 

However, after four landfalls in the Bahamas, the average wind speed of Hurricane Irene was 120 mph (190 km/h), achieving the Category 3 status on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. This is more proof that moderate intensity hurricanes can wreak havoc, especially as the estimated damage was $16 billion and it caused more than 56 deaths. It occurred on August 20 and dissipated on August 29. 

Hurricane Ivan

• Year: 2004
• Damage: $35 billion
• Intensity: Category 5
• Places affected: The Caribbean, Venezuela, United States Gulf Coast

According to experts, Hurricane Ivan was the 4th major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It reached Category 5 strength on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale and severely affected Cuba and other regions in the United States, but also caused terrible cataclysms as a Category 3 storm in Grenada and a Category 4 in Jamaica. 

Researchers say that Hurricane Ivan caused an estimated $35 billion in damage, of which $20.5 billion occurred in the United States. So, being one of the most dangerous Atlantic hurricanes to ever occur, it had a huge impact on people’s lives, namely that – besides that it destroyed their houses and other belongings – it took 64 lives in the Caribbean, 3 in Venezuela, 25 in the United States, including 14 in Florida, plus another 32 indirect deaths in the United States.

Hurricane Wilma

• Year: 2005
• Damage: $29 billion
• Intensity: Category 5
• Places affected: Greater Antilles, Central America, Florida

Experts say that Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, the 6th major hurricane of them all, and the 4th Category 5 hurricane that caused terrible damage in the United States. 

That being said, it was shown that Wilma became a hurricane on October 18 and its intensity increased in less than 24 hours turning it into a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of 185 mph (298 km/h). 

However, there were more than 52 deaths and the estimated damage was $29 billion, most of which occurred in the United States.

Hurricane Andrew

• Year: 1992
• Damage: $45 billion
• Intensity: Category 5 
• Places affected: The Bahamas, Florida, Louisiana

Hurricane Andrew was one of the most powerful and destructive category 5 Atlantic hurricanes that severely affected the United States. It occurred in August 1992 and was the most devastating hurricane in Florida in terms of destroyed properties and the costliest of them all in that period, because this was the place where it made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. Nevertheless, its wind speeds reached 165 mph (280 km/h). 

According to experts, Hurricane Andrew caused more than 65 deaths, destroyed at least 63,500 properties and damaged more than 124,000 buildings and the total damage was estimated at $45 billion.

Hurricane Ike

•  Year: 2008
• Damage: $38 billion
• Intensity: Category 4
• Places affected: Greater Antilles, Texas, Louisiana, Midwestern United States, Eastern Canada, Iceland

Hurricane Ike occurred in September 2008, wreaking major havoc especially in Cuba and Texas. It seems that Ike was the third costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States and also the third most destructive hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. 

Hurricane Ike was responsible for causing at least 195 deaths and the total damage was estimated at about $38 billion. Ike peaked with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (233 km/h), making it a Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane Sandy

• Year: 2012
• Damage: $68.7 billion
• Intensity: Category 3
• Places affected: The Caribbean, United States East Coast, Eastern Canada

According to specialists, Hurricane Sandy is the second most destructive hurricane in United States history. 

Even though it was a Category 3 hurricane, reaching a maximum sustained wind of 110 mph (175 km/h) when it made landfall in Cuba, it was also one of the most destructive hurricanes in America, proving that the category doesn’t always define its power and potential. In other words, it seems that moderate intensity hurricanes are usually the ones that create terrible catastrophes. 

For example, among other regions, Hurricane Sandy affected 24 US states, destroyed a lot of buildings and houses, flooded streets, tunnels and subway lines, cut off power everywhere, caused more than 286 deaths. Sandy caused more than $68.7 billion in damages.

Hurricane Harvey

• Year: 2017
• Damage: $125 billion
• Intensity: Category 4
• Places affected: Texas, Louisiana, South America, Central America, The Caribbean, Yucatan Peninsula

Unfortunately, Hurricane Harvey is one of the most devastating Category 4 hurricanes that occurred in Texas, Louisiana and other parts of the United States, causing monstrous devastation, affecting our lives in so many ways. Hurricane Harvey was responsible for causing the deaths of more than 82 people, and the total damage was estimated at $125 billion. 

Harvey is the first major hurricane of the extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, initially being just a tropical wave, but became a hurricane a few days later. 

Hurricane Katrina

• Year: 2005
• Damage: $125 billion
• Intensity: Category 5
• Places affected: Louisiana, Mississippi, The Bahamas, United States Gulf Coast, South Florida, Northeast, Eastern Canada

Well, you don’t have to live in America to know about Hurricane Katrina, especially since there are people around the world who learn in school about the most destructive hurricane of all time that almost wiped our country off the world map. Honestly, if you haven’t heard of this hurricane before, it means that you should read and improve your knowledge a little more.

That being said, Hurricane Katrina was a huge Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that killed at least 2,000 people and $125 billion in damage in August 2005. Katrina was the costliest hurricane at that time (now being tied with Hurricane Harvey that occurred in 2017).