Search and rescue teams are still uncovering the grim aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating flooding in North Carolina’s western mountains, with the death toll rising daily. Currently, the toll stands at 214, making Helene the fourth deadliest landfalling hurricane in the U.S. since 1950. However, if hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are included, Maria in 2017 holds the title for the deadliest hurricane in the modern era with a final death toll of 2,975. Studies suggest that the loss of life related to Maria continued for months after the storm, making it the deadliest Atlantic hurricane in the U.S. since 1950.
Looking back at historical data, hurricanes before modern forecasting and communication systems caused far greater loss of life. The deadliest hurricane in U.S. history was the 1900 Galveston hurricane, which claimed at least 8,000 lives. Other deadly hurricanes in the modern era, aside from Maria, include Katrina (2005) and Audrey (1957).
Hurricane Sandy, although not classified as a hurricane when it made landfall in the Northeast in 2012, claimed at least 159 lives. The data provided gives a list of the deadliest hurricanes to make landfall in the mainland U.S. since 1950, with Katrina topping the list in 2005 with 1,392 deaths. Dinah Voyles Pulver, a journalist covering climate change and the environment, has researched and reported on hurricanes, tornadoes, and violent weather for over 30 years.
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