1. When Disaster Hits Home
10 Major Disasters and Their Impact

2. Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001
In the worst attack on U.S. soil in
more than 60 years, planes crash
into the World Trade Center in
New York City and the Pentagon in
Washington. A fourth plane
crashes in a field in Pennsylvania.
Deaths: 2,996 lives lost, including
19 hijackers. 2,606 die in New
York City, 125 at the Pentagon.
Cost: $55 billion in physical
damage, $123 billion economic
impact.
Aftermath: Led to global war on
terror that continues to this day.

3. SARS Outbreak in Southern China
Nov. 2002 – July 2003
An outbreak of severe acute
respiratory syndrome hits China
and spreads to 16 other
countries, with more than 8,200
cases reported. The deadly viral
disease has a fatality rate of nearly
10%.
Deaths: 775 deaths, including 349
in China and 299 in Hong Kong.
Cost: Estimated $40 billion impact
on the world economy [National
Institutes of Health]
Aftermath: China was forced to
become more open in its
reporting of major medical cases.

4. Northeast Blackout
August 2003
A cascading power outage caused
by a software malfunction impacts
45 million people in the United
States and 10 million Canada. It is
the second-largest blackout in U.S.
history.
Deaths: Contributed to 11 deaths.
Cost: Estimates range from $4.5
billion to $8 billion, much of it in
the form of lost wages.
Aftermath: Led to broad
discussions about the need to
protect critical infrastructure.

5. Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami
Dec. 26, 2004
One of the largest undersea
earthquakes on record triggers a
massive tsunami that devastates
portions of Indonesia, Thailand
and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Deaths: 174,236 lives
lost, including 166,708 in Aceh
province, Indonesia.
Cost: $6.5 billion in losses from
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and
Myanmar.
Aftermath: Rebuilding
continues, and there are unknown
long-term environmental impacts.

6. Hurricane Katrina
Aug. 29, 2005
A Category 5 hurricane makes a
direct hit on the Gulf Coast,
overwhelming levees in New
Orleans and causing widespread
flooding.
Deaths: 1,833 killed.
Cost: $125 billion, including $108
billion in property damage. It is
the mostly costly hurricane in U.S.
history.
Aftermath: Many residents were
permanently displaced. The
disaster led to criticism of the
federal and local response, and a
review of the New Orleans levee
system.

7. Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
March 11, 2011
One of the largest earthquakes on
record leads to a tsunami that batters
Japan’s east coast.
The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant
is heavily damaged, resulting in a
meltdown of three reactors.
It is the second-worst nuclear power
plant disaster in history.
Deaths: 19,846 deaths
Cost: $210 billion. Estimated to be
the costliest natural disaster in
history.
Aftermath: Area near the nuclear
plant remains uninhabited. Long-
term health effects to those exposed
to radiation remain unknown.
Disaster renewed discussion of the
safety of nuclear power.

8. Joplin, Missouri Tornado
May 22 2011
Powerful EF5 tornado cuts
through a quiet midwestern town
with winds of more than 200
miles per hour.
Deaths: 176 killed
Cost: $14 billion. Estimated to be
the costliest single tornado in
history.
Aftermath: It remains one of the
most devastating tornadoes in
history, but has been followed by
others with similar force, including
one that killed 24 people in
Moore, OK in 2013.

9. Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill
On April 20, 2010, the BP-operated oil rig
Deepwater Horizon sank in the Gulf of
Mexico following a large explosion.
Eleven workers died and the accident led
to the largest marine oil spill in history.
The well was not declared sealed for
nearly five months. About 210 million
gallons of oil reportedly leaked into the
Gulf.
Deaths: 11 deaths
Cost: $2.5 billion impact to the fishing
industry, $23 billion impact on tourism.
[NOAA]
BP has lost tens of billions of
dollars, including more than $40 billion in
settlements and payments to those
affected.
Aftermath: The environmental impact of
the disaster is still being examined. The
accident renewed a debate about
offshore drilling.

10. ‘Superstorm’ Sandy
Oct. 22-31, 2012
Sandy hits the northeast United
States as a Category 1 hurricane
and slams the New Jersey coast
and impacting more than two
dozen states.
The Jersey shore and Staten Island
are particularly hard hit with
severe property damage and
extended power outages.
Deaths: 148 direct deaths
Cost: $65 billion [NOAA]
Aftermath: Thousands of people
left displaced by the storm in New
Jersey and New York remain in
need of help.

11. Typhoon Haiyan, Philippine
sNov. 8, 2013
One of the most powerful tropical
cyclones on record devastates the
Philippines with sustained winds
of more than 200 miles per hour.
Nearly 2 million people are left
homeless. The storm leads to a
massive international
humanitarian response.
Deaths: More than 6,200 deaths
with hundreds still missing.
Cost: $1.5 billion
Aftermath: Bodies are still being
recovered and officials are still
assessing widespread
environmental damage.