Flooding has prompted a median of greater than 125 deaths per 12 months in america over the previous few many years, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service, and flash floods are the nation’s high storm-related killer.
Right here’s a have a look at a few of the most dangerous flooding nationwide prior to now 25 years.
Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to search for victims and to rescue stranded individuals in bushes and from camps remoted by washed-out roads.
Hurricane Helene, 2024
Hurricane Helene struck Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia in September 2024. The storm prompted about 250 deaths, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service.
Lots of those that died in Helene fell sufferer to large inland flooding, quite than excessive winds. Helene was the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The storm decimated distant cities all through the Appalachians and left tens of millions with out energy, mobile service and provides. In North Carolina alone, Helene was liable for 108 deaths, in response to the state’s Division of Well being and Human Providers.
Kentucky, 2022
Raging floodwaters in jap Kentucky in late July of 2022 led to 45 deaths, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys stated Saturday.
The floods destroyed properties and companies and prompted vital harm to colleges, roads, bridges and water programs. The catastrophe robbed hundreds of households of all their possessions.
Tennessee, 2021
Twenty individuals had been killed when creeks close to the small Center Tennessee city of Waverly overflowed after greater than greater than 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain fell within the space in lower than 24 hours in August 2021.
Houses had been washed off their foundations, automobiles had been wrecked and companies had been demolished. The lifeless included twin infants who had been swept from their father’s arms.
Hurricane Harvey, 2017
Hurricane Harvey barreled into Texas in August 2017 as a strong Class 4 storm. Harvey hovered for days because it trudged inland, dumping a number of toes of rain on many Gulf Coast communities and the Houston space.
Harvey killed a minimum of 68 individuals, in response to a Nationwide Hurricane Middle report. All however three of the Harvey deaths had been straight attributed to freshwater flooding, which broken greater than 300,000 buildings and prompted an estimated $125 billion in harm.
West Virginia, June 2016
A rainstorm that originally appeared like no huge deal was a disaster in West Virginia, trapping dozens of individuals through the evening and finally leaving 23 individuals lifeless across the state.
Superstorm Sandy, 2012
Superstorm Sandy was a a late fall freak mixture of a hurricane and different storms that struck New York and surrounding areas in October 2012.
Sandy killed 147 individuals, 72 within the jap U.S., in response to the Nationwide Hurricane Middle. Greater than 110 deaths had been attributed to drowning, Roys stated.
Mississippi River, 2011
Heavy rainfall in a number of states, plus a larger-than-normal sluggish soften, led rivers within the Mississippi River Basin to swell and flood in 2011.
Flash floods related to these storms prompted 24 deaths throughout Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee in April and Could, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service.
Hurricane Ike, 2008
Hurricane Ike struck the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast in September 2008, making a storm surge as excessive as 20 toes (6 meters) within the island metropolis of Galveston.
Ike then poured greater than 4 toes (1.2 meters) of rain on Houston, destroying hundreds of automobiles and leaving tons of of hundreds of households with flood-damaged properties.
In all, Ike was liable for greater than 100 deaths, many brought on by flooding.
Hurricane Katrina, 2005
Hurricane Katrina is the deadliest flood occasion within the U.S. prior to now 25 years.
The storm crashed into the Gulf Coast and prompted devastating flooding when levees failed in New Orleans, the place individuals needed to be rescued by boat and helicopter from rooftops.
The most expensive storm in U.S. historical past, Katrina prompted practically 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damages.
Tropical Storm Allison, 2001
Tropical Storm Allison prompted 41 deaths, largely attributed to flooding brought on by 40 inches (101 centimeters) of rain that fell in Texas and Louisiana, Roys stated.
Allison remained a risk for days as its remnants lingered after making landfall in June 2001, inflicting main flooding in Houston.
