What was the worst hurricane in history? Hurricane Dorian has marked several milestones. It is the most devastating phenomenon in the history of the Bahamas archipelago, the second most powerful on record in the Atlantic and the strongest this year on the planet.
The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hubert Minnis, could not hold back his tears. In a press conference, he described the passage of Hurricane Dorian on his land as “the worst day of my life.”
What was the worst hurricane: Dorian became the most intense that has touched the island in all its history and the second most powerful on record in the Atlantic.
The highest category (five) on the Saffir-Simpson scale has rarely been reached by hurricanes that have passed through the Atlantic and Dorian is one of them, although this September 2 it weakened to category four. However, the authorities have described it as “catastrophic”.
For now, its most serious consequences have been experienced by the inhabitants of the Bahamas archipelago, where a storm that the president of the United States, Donald Trump, called “monstrous”, destroyed entire villages as he embarked on an uncertain path towards the east coast of his country.
Although for now there is no official record of victims, the authorities suspect that the worst has not yet happened … and incidentally, they recall the most powerful and deadly hurricanes that have passed through the Atlantic since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is registered. What was the worst hurricane in the world?
Galveston (1900): the deadliest and most devastating
This hurricane was first detected over the tropical Atlantic on August 27, and very little is known about its intensity. What is known is that it arrived in Cuba as a tropical storm on September 3 and when it reached the Texas coast south of Galveston on September 8. It was already a category four hurricane.
It is the deadliest climate disaster in American history. Its soaring tides flooded the entire island of Galveston, as well as other parts of the coast near Texas. An estimated 8,000 people died (but estimates at the time spoke of up to 12,000). While economic losses were estimated at 30 million dollars (at the time).
San Felipe-Okeechobee (1928): a long journey across the Atlantic
This hurricane was detected for the first time over the tropical Atlantic, specifically in the Leeward Islands, on September 10.
Days later it hit Puerto Rico directly as a category four hurricane. It passed through the Bahamas and made landfall near Palm Beach, Florida, before arriving in North Carolina.
This hurricane caused many deaths and great destruction along its way from the Leeward Islands to Florida. The worst tragedy occurred inside Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Where it caused a 6 to 9 foot storm surge that flooded the area.
An estimated 1,836 people died in Florida, primarily due to the lake’s flood. Another 312 people died in Puerto Rico and 18 more were reported dead in the Bahamas.
Mitch (1998): Central America was the hardest hit
This powerful hurricane began to develop over the southwestern Caribbean Sea on October 22. After becoming a category five hurricane, it moved towards the coastal islands of Honduras. In her journey and with different intensities, Mitch crossed the Yucatan Peninsula, South Florida, the British Isles and Iceland.
But it was only upon its arrival in Honduras, with strong winds and storm surges. That it showed its greatest impact, with widespread rains and severe flooding not only in this country but also in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador, causing. According to the NOOA, approximately 9,000 deaths and a similar number of missing.
Jeanne (2004): the worst hurricane to hit Haiti
It struck Puerto Rico first on September 15 and strengthened just before making landfall in the Dominican Republic. Jeanne got really dangerous on the 25th of the month, while moving over the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama.
Although it weakened as it passed through the United States. The rains caused by the cyclone caused historic floods in Puerto Rico and deadly floods and landslides in Haiti. Where more than 3,000 people lost their lives and approximately 200,000 were left homeless. There were also fatalities in Florida, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Virginia.
Katrina (2005): 80% of New Orleans, under water
Responsible for approximately 1,200 reported deaths, including about 1,000 in Louisiana and 200 in Mississippi. And with damages estimated at $ 75 billion, Katrina is one of the most devastating hurricanes in American history.
It became a hurricane before making landfall near Miami-Dade on the afternoon of August 25. After strengthening and reaching category five, she then headed to Louisiana, Mississippi and southwestern Alabama.
María (2017): as catastrophic as it is controversial
It made landfall as a category four hurricane on September 20 and is considered the deadliest in Puerto Rico’s history. Today, after two years, it still generates controversy, since it is not even clear about the real number of victims.
While the government acknowledged that they were around 1,500. A study by Harvard University concluded that the figure was at least 4,645.
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