The Deadliest Hurricanes To Hit the US in the last half century

Not only are hurricanes the most destructive natural disasters, they are also the deadliest. The 67 major hurricanes to hit the U.S. since 1980 have resulted in more than 7,200 deaths, or an average of about 108 fatalities per storm.

Notably, however, most major hurricanes in the last 45 years have resulted in fewer than 30 deaths – and the high average death rate has been driven by a small handful of singular, catastrophic events. In fact, just 12 storms account for over 80% of all hurricane fatalities in the U.S. since 1980.

Using data from NOAA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the deadliest hurricanes to hit the United States. Only hurricanes that occurred since 1980 and caused over $1 billion in damage in inflation adjusted dollars were considered. Of the 12 hurricanes on this list, the number of fatalities ranges from 77 to nearly 3,000. All but two of these storms hit the U.S. in the 21st century, and half of them occurred within the last 10 years.

Hurricane fatality rates depend on a number of factors, including the size and power of the storm, key infrastructure impacted by the storm, and precautions taken by Americans in the storm’s path. Americans living in the places most frequently impacted by major hurricanes – including Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and the Carolinas – are advised to take certain measures to reduce their risk in the event of a storm.

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