Hurricane Floyd – September 16, 1999
The flooding from hurricanes can be extremely destructive as became clear in the $6 billion
Natural
Peru Offshore Earthquake – June 23, 2001
Earthquakes are frequent in this part of South America where the Nazca Tectonic Plate is
Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami – Indonesia – December 26, 2004
The whole world was shaken by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Indonesia. Around
Peru Earthquake – May 31, 1970
The earthquake in west-central Peru triggered a massive avalanche that swept downhill from a height
Bangladesh Cyclone – November 9, 1970
Cyclones that strike land from the Bay of Bengal, India, have always caused high death
Guatemala Earthquake – February 4, 1976
The epicenter was one hundred miles northeast of the city and the earthquake, with a
Tangshan Earthquake – China – July 28, 1976
Information about this earthquake was slow in coming because the Chinese authorities did not want
Mount St. Helens Volcanic Eruption – Washington – May 18, 1980
This was the most recent in the long history of volcanic eruptions in the Cascades.
Coalinga Earthquake – California – May 2, 1983
Since no known faults had been identified in this area, no one expected this earthquake.
Armenia Earthquake – December 7, 1988
Armenia at the time was part of the USSR and at war with a neighboring
Nevado del Ruiz Volcanic Eruption – Colombia – November 13, 1985
Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz erupted and mudflows swept down from a height of 17,500 feet.
Mexico Earthquake – September 19, 1985
This was one of the most destructive and deadly in Mexico’s history. On September 19,
Kalapana Earthquake – Hawaii – November 29, 1975
The southern part of the Big Island sustained massive ground movements and some smaller tsunamis.
Iceland Volcanic Eruption – January 23, 1973
Iceland stands on the mid-Atlantic volcanic ridge and is constantly experiencing eruptions. The 1973 one
Hurricane Camille – August 17, 1969
Camille was one of only three hurricanes in the history of the United States to
Managua Earthquake – Nicaragua – December 22, 1972
The city of Managua suffered extreme damage from the shaking and from fires. On the
Brisbane Flood – Australia – January 21, 1974
Brisbane received twelve inches of rain within one twenty-four-hour period and, as a result, both
Hurricane Agnes – June 19, 1972
Flooding from hurricanes is not the most common concern from these storms but in the
Most Recent
Famous Last Words: The Chilling Final Moments of Historical Figures
Overview The final words spoken by an individual offer a unique and powerful window
First-Hand Accounts: What It Was Like to Live Through the Dust Bowl
Overview The Dust Bowl was a decade-long environmental and economic catastrophe that struck the American
The Unsolved Mystery of the Titanic’s Sister Ship, the Britannic
Overview In the cold waters of the Aegean Sea rests the world’s largest sunken passenger
The Most Infamous Cults in American History
Overview The term “cult” is one of the most fraught and controversial in modern language.
