Disaster-Preppers

Introduction Blackout Hurricane / Typhoon Flooding Fire Earthquake Volcano Eruption Avalanche / Land Slide Civil Unrest Accidents Cyber Crime (Nuclear) War Emergency Kits About
First published: 3 Oct 2023
Update: 5 Oct 2023

Worst Disasters in the past 200 years

Natural Disasters
  1. Tangshan Earthquake (1976, China):
    • Date: July 28, 1976
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 242,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: This earthquake in China's Tangshan city is one of the deadliest in recorded history, causing widespread devastation and loss of life.
  2. Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (2004, Multiple Countries):
    • Date: December 26, 2004
    • Human Casualties: Approximately 230,000+ deaths across multiple countries
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A massive undersea earthquake triggered a powerful tsunami, affecting 14 countries and causing widespread destruction.
  3. Haiti Earthquake (2010, Haiti):
    • Date: January 12, 2010
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 230,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A devastating earthquake struck Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
  4. Great Kanto Earthquake (1923, Japan):
    • Date: September 1, 1923
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 142,800+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (adjusted for inflation)
    • Description: This earthquake in Japan caused widespread fires and destruction in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas.
  5. Boxing Day Tsunami (1883, Indonesia):
    • Date: December 26, 1883
    • Human Casualties: Approximately 36,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Significant, but difficult to estimate
    • Description: A volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami in the Sunda Strait (Indonesia) resulted in massive loss of life.
  6. Sichuan Earthquake (2008, China):
    • Date: May 12, 2008
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 87,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A powerful earthquake struck China's Sichuan province, causing extensive damage and loss of life.
  7. Hurricane Katrina (2005, United States):
    • Date: August 29, 2005
    • Human Casualties: Over 1,800 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Over $125 billion
    • Description: Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, leading to massive flooding and destruction in New Orleans.
  8. Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011, Japan):
    • Date: March 11, 2011
    • Human Casualties: Approximately 16,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Over $235 billion
    • Description: A powerful earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, causing a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
  9. Typhoon Haiyan (2013, Philippines):
    • Date: November 8, 2013
    • Human Casualties: Over 6,000 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: One of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, Haiyan caused extensive damage and loss of life in the Philippines.
  10. Hurricane Maria (2017, Puerto Rico):
    • Date: September 20, 2017
    • Human Casualties: Over 2,900 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: Maria struck Puerto Rico, leading to widespread destruction, power outages, and a humanitarian crisis.
  11. Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984, India):
    • Date: December 2-3, 1984
    • Human Casualties: Thousands of immediate deaths and long-term health effects
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A chemical leak at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, resulted in a catastrophic gas release.
  12. Aral Sea Environmental Disaster (20th century - ongoing, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan):
    • Date: Ongoing since the 1960s
    • Human Casualties: Health impacts due to ecological changes
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (economic and environmental damage)
    • Description: The diversion of rivers for irrigation led to the shrinking of the Aral Sea, causing severe ecological and economic consequences.
  13. COVID-19 Pandemic (2019 - ongoing, Worldwide):
    • Date: Ongoing
    • Human Casualties: Millions of deaths and widespread health impacts
    • Economic Costs: Trillions of dollars
    • Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, with significant loss of life and economic consequences.
  14. Spanish Flu Pandemic (1918-1919, Worldwide):
    • Date: 1918-1919
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 50 million+ deaths worldwide
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (adjusted for inflation)
    • Description: The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 was one of the deadliest flu pandemics in history, with a high global death toll.
  15. Yellow Fever Epidemic (1793, United States):
    • Date: 1793
    • Human Casualties: Thousands of deaths in Philadelphia
    • Economic Costs: Significant economic impact on trade and commerce
    • Description: The yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia had a devastating impact on the city and its population in the late 18th century.
  16. West African Ebola Outbreak (2014-2016, Multiple West African Countries):
    • Date: 2014-2016
    • Human Casualties: Over 11,000 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: The Ebola outbreak in West Africa had severe health, social, and economic consequences in affected countries.

Man-made Disasters
  1. Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster (1986, Ukraine):
    • Date: April 26, 1986
    • Human Casualties: Immediate deaths numbered 31, with long-term health impacts
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (including cleanup)
    • Description: The explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine released significant radioactive contamination, impacting health and the environment.
  2. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010, United States):
    • Date: April 20, 2010
    • Human Casualties: 11 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Over $60 billion
    • Description: An explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig caused a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, impacting marine life and coastal economies.
  3. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster (2011, Japan):
    • Date: March 11, 2011
    • Human Casualties: No immediate deaths, but long-term health effects
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (including cleanup)
    • Description: The Fukushima nuclear disaster followed the Japan earthquake and tsunami, leading to the release of radioactive materials.
  4. California Wildfires (2020, United States):
    • Date: Ongoing
    • Human Casualties: Multiple deaths and widespread evacuations
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: Wildfires in California, particularly in recent years, have caused loss of life, property damage, and significant economic impact.
  5. Blackout Northeast North America (2003, United States and Canada):
    • Date: August 14, 2003
    • Human Casualties: Limited, but disrupted daily life
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A massive power outage affected parts of the United States and Canada, causing widespread disruptions.

Worst Disasters in the past 200 years

Natural Disasters
  1. Tangshan Earthquake (1976, China):
    • Date: July 28, 1976
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 242,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: This earthquake in China's Tangshan city is one of the deadliest in recorded history, causing widespread devastation and loss of life.
  2. Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (2004, Multiple Countries):
    • Date: December 26, 2004
    • Human Casualties: Approximately 230,000+ deaths across multiple countries
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A massive undersea earthquake triggered a powerful tsunami, affecting 14 countries and causing widespread destruction.
  3. Haiti Earthquake (2010, Haiti):
    • Date: January 12, 2010
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 230,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A devastating earthquake struck Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
  4. Great Kanto Earthquake (1923, Japan):
    • Date: September 1, 1923
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 142,800+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (adjusted for inflation)
    • Description: This earthquake in Japan caused widespread fires and destruction in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas.
  5. Boxing Day Tsunami (1883, Indonesia):
    • Date: December 26, 1883
    • Human Casualties: Approximately 36,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Significant, but difficult to estimate
    • Description: A volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami in the Sunda Strait (Indonesia) resulted in massive loss of life.
  6. Sichuan Earthquake (2008, China):
    • Date: May 12, 2008
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 87,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A powerful earthquake struck China's Sichuan province, causing extensive damage and loss of life.
  7. Hurricane Katrina (2005, United States):
    • Date: August 29, 2005
    • Human Casualties: Over 1,800 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Over $125 billion
    • Description: Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, leading to massive flooding and destruction in New Orleans.
  8. Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011, Japan):
    • Date: March 11, 2011
    • Human Casualties: Approximately 16,000+ deaths
    • Economic Costs: Over $235 billion
    • Description: A powerful earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, causing a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
  9. Typhoon Haiyan (2013, Philippines):
    • Date: November 8, 2013
    • Human Casualties: Over 6,000 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: One of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, Haiyan caused extensive damage and loss of life in the Philippines.
  10. Hurricane Maria (2017, Puerto Rico):
    • Date: September 20, 2017
    • Human Casualties: Over 2,900 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: Maria struck Puerto Rico, leading to widespread destruction, power outages, and a humanitarian crisis.
  11. Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984, India):
    • Date: December 2-3, 1984
    • Human Casualties: Thousands of immediate deaths and long-term health effects
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A chemical leak at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, resulted in a catastrophic gas release.
  12. Aral Sea Environmental Disaster (20th century - ongoing, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan):
    • Date: Ongoing since the 1960s
    • Human Casualties: Health impacts due to ecological changes
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (economic and environmental damage)
    • Description: The diversion of rivers for irrigation led to the shrinking of the Aral Sea, causing severe ecological and economic consequences.
  13. COVID-19 Pandemic (2019 - ongoing, Worldwide):
    • Date: Ongoing
    • Human Casualties: Millions of deaths and widespread health impacts
    • Economic Costs: Trillions of dollars
    • Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, with significant loss of life and economic consequences.
  14. Spanish Flu Pandemic (1918-1919, Worldwide):
    • Date: 1918-1919
    • Human Casualties: Estimated 50 million+ deaths worldwide
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (adjusted for inflation)
    • Description: The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 was one of the deadliest flu pandemics in history, with a high global death toll.
  15. Yellow Fever Epidemic (1793, United States):
    • Date: 1793
    • Human Casualties: Thousands of deaths in Philadelphia
    • Economic Costs: Significant economic impact on trade and commerce
    • Description: The yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia had a devastating impact on the city and its population in the late 18th century.
  16. West African Ebola Outbreak (2014-2016, Multiple West African Countries):
    • Date: 2014-2016
    • Human Casualties: Over 11,000 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: The Ebola outbreak in West Africa had severe health, social, and economic consequences in affected countries.
Man-made Disasters
  1. Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster (1986, Ukraine):
    • Date: April 26, 1986
    • Human Casualties: Immediate deaths numbered 31, with long-term health impacts
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (including cleanup)
    • Description: The explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine released significant radioactive contamination, impacting health and the environment.
  2. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010, United States):
    • Date: April 20, 2010
    • Human Casualties: 11 deaths
    • Economic Costs: Over $60 billion
    • Description: An explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig caused a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, impacting marine life and coastal economies.
  3. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster (2011, Japan):
    • Date: March 11, 2011
    • Human Casualties: No immediate deaths, but long-term health effects
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars (including cleanup)
    • Description: The Fukushima nuclear disaster followed the Japan earthquake and tsunami, leading to the release of radioactive materials.
  4. California Wildfires (2020, United States):
    • Date: Ongoing
    • Human Casualties: Multiple deaths and widespread evacuations
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: Wildfires in California, particularly in recent years, have caused loss of life, property damage, and significant economic impact.
  5. Blackout Northeast North America (2003, United States and Canada):
    • Date: August 14, 2003
    • Human Casualties: Limited, but disrupted daily life
    • Economic Costs: Billions of dollars
    • Description: A massive power outage affected parts of the United States and Canada, causing widespread disruptions.