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Subject: E12) What have been the deadliest hurricanes for the USA?

Contributed by Chris Landsea (NHC)

RANKHURRICANEYEARCATDEATHSCOMMENTS
1TX (Galveston)190048000-12,000
2FL (SE/Lake Okeechobee)192842500-3000Same storm as #13 ADDENDUM
3KATRINA (LA,MS,AL,FL,GA)200531500Deaths directly attributed
4LA (Cheniere Caminanda)189341100-14002000 including offshore deaths
August
5SC/GA (Sea Islands)189331000-2000
6GA/SC18812700
7AUDREY (SW LA/N TX) 19574>416
8FL (Keys)19355408
9LA (Last Island)18564400With offshore deaths total is ~600
10FL (Miami)/MS/AL/Pensacola19264372
11LA (Grand Isle)19093350
12FL (Keys)/S TX19194287With offshore deaths total is ~600
13LA (New Orleans)19154275
14TX (Galveston)19154275
15New England19383256With offshore deaths total is ~600
16CAMILLE (MS/SE LA/VA)19695256
17DIANE (NE U.S.)19551184
18GA, SC, NC18984179
19TX18753176
20SE FL19063164
21TX (Indianola)18864150
22MS/AL/Pensacola19062134
23FL, GA, SC18963130
24AGNES (FL/NE U.S.)19721≤122
25HAZEL (SC/NC)1954495
26BETSY (SE FL/SE LA)1965375
**SANDY (NJ,NY,CN)2012-72
27Northeast U.S.1944364Total 390 with offshore deaths
28CAROL (NE U.S.)1954360
29FLOYD (Mid Atlantic & NE U.S.)1999256
30NC1883253
31SE FL/SE LA/MS1947451
32NC, SC18993≥50Same storm as #2 in ADDENDUM
32GA/SC/NC1940250
32DONNA (FL/Eastern U.S.)1960450
35LA18602≥47
36IRENE NC/VA/NE2011147
37NC, VA18793≥46Could include offshore deaths
38CARLA (N & Central TX)1961446
39TX (Velasco)1909341
40ALLISON (SE TX)2001TS41
41Mid-Atlantic1889unk≥40Could include offshore deaths
Storm remained offshore
41TX (Freeport)1932440
41S TX1933340
44HILDA (LA)1964338
45SW LA1918334
46SW FL1910330
47ALBERTO (NW FL, GA, AL)1994TS30
48SC, FL1893328Mid-October
49New England18782≥27
50Texas18862≥27
ADDENDUM
(Not Atlantic/Gulf Coast)
2Puerto Rico189933369Same storm as #32
5P.R. USVI18673≤811Could include offshore deaths
5Puerto Rico18521≤800Total possibly from 2 storms
13Puerto Rico (San Felipe)19285312Same storm as #2
17USVI, Puerto Rico19322225
25DONNA (St. Thomas, VI)19604107
25Puerto Rico18881≥100
37Southern California1939TS45
37ELOISE(Puerto Rico)1975TS44
47USVI18713≥27

** SANDY 2012 was not classified a tropical cyclone when it came ashore but is placed in this table for reference relative to other storms.

From The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2006 (and other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-5 April 15, 2007, Eric S. Blake, Edward N. Rappaport, Christopher W. Landsea.

Last updated May 22, 2013

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