The worst disasters in US history include both natural and human-caused events. Here are some of the worst disasters that have occurred in the US:
- 9/11 terrorist attacks - On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths.
- The Spanish flu pandemic - The 1918 influenza pandemic caused an estimated 675,000 deaths in the US, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.
- Hurricane Katrina - The 2005 hurricane caused over 1,800 deaths and caused significant damage and destruction in New Orleans and other areas of the Gulf Coast.
- Galveston hurricane of 1900 - This hurricane caused an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 deaths, mostly due to storm surges and flooding.
- Deepwater Horizon oil spill - In 2010, an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, causing a massive oil spill that resulted in significant damage to the environment and the economy of the region.
- Dust Bowl - In the 1930s, a severe drought in the Great Plains region of the US led to massive dust storms that caused significant damage to the environment and the economy, and resulted in hundreds of thousands of people leaving the region.
- Pearl Harbor attack - In 1941, the Japanese military attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, resulting in over 2,400 deaths and leading to the US entering World War II.
- Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire - In 1911, a fire at a garment factory in New York City resulted in 146 deaths, mostly young immigrant women who were unable to escape the building due to locked doors and unsafe working conditions.
- Oklahoma City bombing - In 1995, a domestic terrorist bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City, resulting in 168 deaths.
- Jonestown mass suicide - In 1978, over 900 members of the Peoples Temple cult committed mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, under the direction of their leader, Jim Jones. The majority of the victims were US citizens.
