Flooding has brought on a mean of greater than 125 deaths per 12 months in the US over the previous few a long time, in accordance with the Nationwide Climate Service, and flash floods are the nation’s high storm-related killer.
Right here’s a have a look at among the most dangerous flooding nationwide prior to now 25 years.
Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to search for victims and to rescue stranded folks 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 brought on about 250 deaths, in accordance with the Nationwide Climate Service.
A lot of those that died in Helene fell sufferer to large inland flooding, relatively 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 thousands and thousands with out energy, mobile service and provides. In North Carolina alone, Helene was answerable for 108 deaths, in accordance with the state’s Division of Well being and Human Providers.
Kentucky, 2022
Raging floodwaters in japanese Kentucky in late July of 2022 led to 45 deaths, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys mentioned Saturday.
The floods destroyed properties and companies and brought on important harm to varsities, roads, bridges and water programs. The catastrophe robbed hundreds of households of all their possessions.
Tennessee, 2021
Twenty folks 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 robust Class 4 storm. Harvey hovered for days because it trudged inland, dumping a number of ft of rain on many Gulf Coast communities and the Houston space.
Harvey killed at the least 68 folks, in accordance with a Nationwide Hurricane Heart report. All however three of the Harvey deaths had been instantly attributed to freshwater flooding, which broken greater than 300,000 buildings and brought on an estimated $125 billion in harm.
West Virginia, June 2016
A rainstorm that originally appeared like no massive deal became a disaster in West Virginia, trapping dozens of individuals through the night time and finally leaving 23 folks 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 folks, 72 within the japanese U.S., in accordance with the Nationwide Hurricane Heart. Greater than 110 deaths had been attributed to drowning, Roys mentioned.
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 brought on 24 deaths throughout Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee in April and Could, in accordance with 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 ft (6 meters) within the island metropolis of Galveston.
Ike then poured greater than 4 ft (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 answerable for greater than 100 deaths, many attributable to 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 brought on devastating flooding when levees failed in New Orleans, the place folks needed to be rescued by boat and helicopter from rooftops.
The most costly storm in U.S. historical past, Katrina brought on almost 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damages.
Tropical Storm Allison, 2001
Tropical Storm Allison brought on 41 deaths, largely attributed to flooding attributable to 40 inches (101 centimeters) of rain that fell in Texas and Louisiana, Roys mentioned.
Allison remained a menace for days as its remnants lingered after making landfall in June 2001, inflicting main flooding in Houston.
