Top 15 Most Destructive Hurricanes in History

Every year, as the storm season approaches, a ritual unfolds in Florida. People board up windows, dry-dock boats, and strip grocery and hardware stores of essentials, just in case a major storm hits.

The annual hurricane preparations, from watching spaghetti models to stocking up, are driven by the memory of past storms. Many have experienced hurricanes firsthand and understand the immense destruction they can bring. From a 1700s hurricane that devastated the Caribbean to Sandy’s destructive path in 2012, the history of hurricanes is filled with tragic tales of devastation.

A hurricane is defined as a tropical storm with winds exceeding 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour). These storms form globally, with hurricanes occurring in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans, cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, and typhoons in the Western Pacific.

The hurricanes listed here may not be the deadliest or the most expensive, but they all stand out due to the combination of severe property damage, powerful winds, and human tragedy. Each of these storms captured global attention for different reasons, and they are ranked according to the number of lives lost.

15: Michael

Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, especially Panama City Beach, Mexico Beach, and Cape San Blas, when it made landfall on October 10, 2018, as a Category 5 storm. It was the most powerful hurricane to strike this area and only the second Category 5 to land on the Gulf Coast. Michael also marked the first Category 5 storm to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

What began as a typical, weak tropical system in the Caribbean during October, Hurricane Michael rapidly intensified once it passed over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It strengthened into a major hurricane with sustained winds of 161 miles per hour (259 kilometers per hour), causing catastrophic damage due to both wind and storm surge, and spreading inland into southwest Georgia.

Michael claimed 16 lives across four states—Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. The Insurance Information Institute estimates the damages caused by Michael range between $9 billion and $12 billion.

14: Andrew

In August 1992, this devastating Category 5 hurricane hit southern Dade County, Florida, particularly the area south of Miami. The storm season began quietly that year with minimal activity, and Andrew was initially seen as a 'weak' storm when it first formed in the Atlantic. However, by the time it reached the Bahamas, winds reached over 160 mph (257 kph) in this first-named storm of the season.

When Andrew made landfall in Florida, it destroyed numerous homes with sustained winds of 141 miles per hour (227 kilometers per hour). A 17-foot (5.2-meter) storm surge flooded low-lying streets, and the destruction left drivers stranded for weeks as around 9,500 traffic signs and signals were taken out.

With damages estimated at $27.3 billion (in 2017 dollars), Andrew held the title of the costliest hurricane in U.S. history for over a decade, until Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana in 2005 and caused even greater insured losses.

One positive outcome from Andrew's destruction was the complete overhaul of the South Florida building code, requiring all new homes to have storm shutters or impact-resistant glass, along with stronger roof nail requirements.

In total, Hurricane Andrew was responsible for 61 deaths across Florida and the Caribbean. The storm also left more than 125,000 homes destroyed, leaving 160,000 people homeless.

13: Dorian

Dorian, the first major hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic season, developed from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic on August 24. It gained strength as it approached the Lesser Antilles, becoming a hurricane by August 28. The storm rapidly escalated, reaching Category 4 strength, and by September 1, Dorian had intensified into a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour (297 kilometers per hour), heading straight for the Bahamas.

Hurricane Dorian made landfall as a Category 5 storm at Elbow Cay in Great Abaco, Bahamas, before making a second landfall hours later on Grand Bahama Island. It became the most powerful hurricane ever to strike the Bahamas. But Dorian's destruction didn't stop there. The storm continued up the North Carolina coast, making a third landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at Cape Hatteras, where rain and devastating storm surge overwhelmed the Outer Banks.

The official death toll in the Bahamas due to Dorian stands at 74. However, the former health minister of the Bahamas reported to Parliament that the record-keeping of missing victims was so flawed that the actual death toll could not be accurately determined. Damage in the Bahamas alone was estimated at $3.4 billion.

12: Harvey

After making its way through the Gulf of Mexico in late August 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck the U.S. as a Category 4 storm. It was the first major hurricane to hit the continental U.S. in a decade, following Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Harvey arrived at its peak intensity with winds reaching 130 miles per hour (215 kilometers per hour). Coastal Texas communities like Corpus Christi and Galveston took heavy hits, but Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, saw the most dramatic damage.

Houston experienced catastrophic flooding as Harvey lingered for several days, dropping as much as 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain in some areas. This is the same amount of rainfall the city typically receives in an entire year, all falling within a four-day period. The floodwaters overwhelmed both the natural environment and the infrastructure. Cities like Beaumont, Texas, faced severe water shortages, while then-FEMA Director Brock Long described Harvey as "probably the worst disaster the state's seen."

Over 13,000 people needed rescuing across Texas, with 30,000 people displaced by the flooding. While Texas suffered the greatest impact, the storm also affected states like Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and others. The damage from Harvey was estimated at around $121 billion, making it the fourth-costliest hurricane in U.S. history.

Harvey resulted in at least 82 deaths in Texas. This figure includes those who died directly due to the storm, whether from flash floods or accidents on flooded roads.

11: Hugo

While Florida and the Gulf Coast frequently bear the brunt of hurricane activity in the U.S., the East Coast also experiences significant storm damage. Hurricane Hugo serves as a prime example. It was one of the worst storms to strike the Carolinas in decades when it made landfall in September 1989.

Approaching the East Coast from Puerto Rico as a Category 3 storm, Hugo had winds of 135 miles per hour (217 kilometers per hour). But by the time it made landfall at Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, it had strengthened to a Category 4. Due to its massive size and rapid movement — nearly 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) — hurricane-force winds spread far inland, reaching areas that typically avoid such severe conditions.

Hurricane Hugo became the most intense storm to hit the East Coast since Hurricane Hazel in 1954, leaving behind a trail of destruction. It resulted in at least 86 deaths and caused more than $10 billion in damages. In honor of its impact, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Hugo, ensuring that no future hurricane will bear that name.

10: Sandy

After tearing through Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, the massive, slow-moving Hurricane Sandy weakened into a post-tropical cyclone before reaching the U.S. in October 2012. Despite its weakening, it still managed to wreak havoc across New York City and the Jersey Shore. Storm surges exceeding 13 feet (4 meters) submerged parts of lower Manhattan, leaving many residents without power for days. Meanwhile, Staten Island and beaches in Queens were almost completely erased.

Sandy caused widespread destruction, damaging or destroying around 650,000 homes in the Northeast U.S. It claimed 117 lives in the U.S. and 69 more in Canada and the Caribbean. The total damage was estimated at $65 billion. The storm is also known as 'Superstorm Sandy' because, as it approached New York, it began to exhibit the characteristics of a winter storm rather than a typical tropical system.

9: Ivan

Hurricane Ivan slammed Gulf Shores, Alabama on September 16, 2004, as a Category 3 storm, but its destructive impact remains one of the most severe in the U.S. The storm devastated the coastlines of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle, producing waves taller than 50 feet (15 meters).

What made this Category 3 hurricane so devastating? Ivan had an unusually long lifespan, intensifying and weakening multiple times. It reached Category 5 strength three times, including when it passed the western tip of Cuba on September 13. It weakened to a Category 4 after entering the Gulf of Mexico, and on September 16, Ivan made landfall in Gulf Shores as a Category 3 with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour (193 kilometers per hour) and a 14-foot (4.3-meter) storm surge. Even as it weakened, Ivan continued to dump heavy rain and produce tornadoes across the Southeastern United States.

The system passed through Virginia on September 18, before looping back over southern Florida and re-entering the Gulf of Mexico on September 21. It regained the name Tropical Storm Ivan five days after its initial U.S. landfall and ultimately made its final landfall in southwestern Louisiana on September 23.

Ivan was responsible for the deaths of 57 people in the United States, and an additional 67 lives were lost in Grenada, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the Cayman Islands, and Barbados. The damage caused by the storm was estimated to exceed $27 billion (in 2017 dollars).

8: Camille

When Hurricane Camille struck in August 1969, it was a fierce storm that brought intense flooding and winds reaching up to 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers per hour) to the Gulf Coast and later Virginia. It remains one of only two Category 5 hurricanes to ever hit the Continental U.S. since 1900, with only Andrew in 1992 and Michael in 2018 joining this rare category. Camille formed near the Cayman Islands in August 1969, passed through Cuba as a Category 3, and then intensified in the Gulf of Mexico as it headed toward Mississippi. It made landfall between Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian on August 18. While the exact wind speed at landfall is uncertain due to destroyed weather instruments, estimates suggest gusts reached 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour). Despite this, Camille ranks as the second most intense hurricane to hit the continental U.S. with a 900 mb pressure at landfall.

Winds up to 100 miles per hour were recorded across much of Southern Mississippi, causing damage far inland. A 24-foot (7-meter) storm surge exacerbated the devastation in Mississippi. As Camille weakened into a tropical storm and moved up the East Coast, it reached Virginia, continuing to unleash over 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain, causing flash flooding and mudslides just 120 miles (193 kilometers) from Washington, D.C. The storm left 256 dead and caused more than $1.4 billion in damages.

Camille played a pivotal role in hurricane tracking, leading to the creation of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which categorizes storms from 1 to 5 based on wind speed. Category 1 hurricanes produce winds ranging from 74 to 95 miles per hour (119 to 153 kilometers per hour), while Category 5 storms have winds exceeding 156 miles per hour (251 kilometers per hour). The scale is designed to help people in affected areas better understand the severity of an impending storm.

7: Gilbert

There are various ways to measure a hurricane, from wind speed and rainfall to the toll it takes on lives and property. But then there's the sheer scale. With a massive 500 nautical mile (926 kilometer) diameter, Gilbert was among the largest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic. The storm began its journey near the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa, which has been the origin of some of the most devastating hurricanes in history.

After reaching Category 5 status in September 1988, Gilbert covered all of Jamaica, leaving about 80 percent of the island's homes damaged. The hurricane then continued its path across the Cayman Islands, Mexico, and beyond, weakening as it moved into Texas where it produced a series of tornadoes. The storm claimed 318 lives, including 200 people who perished in flooding in Mexico and 28 who died when a Cuban cargo ship collided with a shrimp boat. The total damage caused by Gilbert amounted to approximately $5.5 billion.

6: 1935 Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane

This Category 5 hurricane, regarded as the most powerful to strike the U.S. in the 20th century, unleashed 200 mph (320 km/h) winds and torrential rains across the upper and middle Florida Keys, resulting in the deaths of around 400 people. More than half of the fatalities were World War I veterans who had been working on the construction of a highway connecting Key West and Key Largo. The damage in the United States was estimated at $6 million.

This catastrophic storm is commonly referred to as the "Labor Day Hurricane" because the naming convention for hurricanes wasn't established until 1953. (At that time, the World Meteorological Organization named storms exclusively with female names until 1978.) This disaster struck at a time before major advancements in weather forecasting technology, such as the regular use of Doppler radar to track storm paths, leaving residents unaware of the approaching threat. Many victims had been waiting for an evacuation train, but it was washed off the tracks before it could reach them.

5: Katrina

Hurricane Katrina is often considered a man-made disaster, with many pointing to the failure of infrastructure as the primary cause of the widespread destruction in New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast, rather than it being simply a natural event.

On August 26, 2005, Hurricane Katrina seemed to be weakening, but as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm. By August 28, a mandatory evacuation order was in place for New Orleans. As the Category 3 storm struck the city, the levee systems were overwhelmed, leading to flooding across the streets. Eventually, 80 percent of New Orleans was submerged under water.

Katrina left many residents who either couldn’t or chose not to evacuate trapped in their homes with rising floodwaters surrounding them. Forty percent of the deaths caused by the hurricane were due to drowning. The slow response from the federal government to the crisis sparked accusations of incompetence and disregard, especially towards poor and Black communities.

In total, Hurricane Katrina claimed 1,833 lives and caused $161 billion in damages, making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) referred to it as 'the single most catastrophic natural disaster in U.S. history.'

Hurricane Katrina also forced the displacement of 400,000 people to cities like Houston and Atlanta. Many of these residents never returned. Although an upgraded levee system was completed in 2013, officials remain concerned about the enormous cost of maintaining it due to a reduced tax base.

4: Maria

Hurricane Maria, the second Category 5 storm of the 2017 season, struck just two weeks after Hurricane Irma had caused widespread damage. Maria was especially devastating, as it passed through some of the same areas that Irma had already impacted. The storm made landfall on Dominica on September 18, 2017, with winds reaching 175 miles per hour (281 kilometers per hour). It then moved on to Guadalupe, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, where it hit on September 20 as a weakened Category 4 storm with winds of 155 miles per hour (249 kilometers per hour) and caused over 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rainfall.

Initially, the official death toll from Hurricane Maria was reported as 146 (64 in Puerto Rico, 65 in Dominica, and the rest in other islands). However, many believed the true toll was much higher. After nearly a year, in August 2018, the Puerto Rican government revised the death toll to 2,975 following an independent investigation by George Washington University [source: Fink].

The damage caused by Maria was estimated at least $1.31 billion in Dominica and over $90 billion in Puerto Rico. Maria became the deadliest storm to hit Puerto Rico and the third-costliest in U.S. history, trailing only Katrina and Harvey. At one point, 90 percent of Puerto Rico was without power due to the destruction of utility poles. Even years later, the island still hasn't fully recovered, with hundreds of thousands of residents relocating permanently to the U.S. mainland.

3: Galveston Hurricane of 1900

While Hurricanes Katrina and Michael were devastating, they were not the most destructive storms to ever strike the Gulf Coast. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which struck in September of that year, claimed an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 lives, mostly in Texas, and is still regarded as the deadliest hurricane in U.S. history.

The storm didn’t fully develop into a hurricane until it passed west of the Florida Keys. A sudden leftward turn sent it straight toward Galveston, leaving locals and officials with fewer than four days to prepare. This Category 4 storm brought storm surges of up to 20 feet (6 meters) and severe flash flooding to the area. After devastating Texas, it continued its destruction through Oklahoma and Kansas. Over 3,600 homes and several so-called 'storm-proof' structures were destroyed, and the total damage was estimated at $30 million.

In response to the disaster, Galveston took remarkable steps to prevent future devastation. The city constructed a seawall stretching miles (5 kilometers), later expanded to 10 miles (16 kilometers), and raised the elevation of the entire city in some areas by as much as 16 feet (5 meters).

2: Mitch

Hurricane Mitch may not have gained as much international attention as other storms, but its death toll and destruction surpassed some of the most infamous hurricanes in history. When it made landfall in Honduras in October 1998, the slow-moving storm lingered, dumping up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain per hour for two consecutive days, triggering mudslides and catastrophic flooding.

With around 11,000 lives lost (and thousands more missing), Mitch stands as the second-deadliest hurricane ever recorded, making it the most devastating to strike the Western Hemisphere in over 200 years. In Honduras alone, the storm caused more than $5 billion in damage, obliterating much of the country’s infrastructure and crops were completely destroyed. Nicaragua also suffered immensely, with 2,000 people lost in a single mudslide.

1: The Great Hurricane of 1780

At the time of the Great Hurricane of 1780, the United States was still a distant dream for George Washington. The hurricane ravaged the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of approximately 22,000 individuals, including British and American soldiers engaged in naval skirmishes as part of the Revolutionary War.

Although there is limited data on the exact speed or rainfall from the hurricane, it is known that the storm relentlessly battered several Caribbean islands, such as Barbados, Martinique, and St. Lucia, over the span of six days in October. One eyewitness described the hurricane as powerful enough to strip bark from trees, sparking speculation that the winds could have reached up to 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers per hour). This catastrophic storm is still regarded as the deadliest hurricane in history.