Cities throughout the United States have been subjected to earthquakes.
Throughout the United States' history, many municipalities have been subjected to a myriad of natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. While most of these disasters are soon forgotten, a handful of U.S. natural disasters caused severe damage and high fatality counts. In some cases, the ramifications of these disasters were so great it changed the course of geological studies and the infrastructure of cities.
The 1900 Storm
One of the earliest recorded natural disasters in the United States occurred on Galveston Island in eastern Texas. Resting on the Gulf of Mexico, this island was subject to hurricane with winds up to 140 miles per hour. The height of the waves during the storm's surge was over 15 feet, compared to the highest elevation level of Galveston Island -- 8 feet in 1900. Approximately 6,000 people were found dead in Galveston in the aftermath of the storm. As a result of the 1900 Storm, the City of Galveston erected a sea wall at the eastern edge of the city.
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake shook the City of San Francisco in the wee hours of early morning. The earthquake's epicenter was in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Further, the earthquake's length of time was approximately 45 to 60 seconds. Nearly 700 people were killed as a result of the earthquake. Once the earthquake was done, wildfire spread throughout the city, burning down many of the city's structures. San Francisco's earthquake also ruptured the northernmost end of the San Andreas fault, a scientific fact that would not be realized until later in the 20th century.
Johnstown Flood of 1889
Johnstown is a small western Pennsylvania town in the Conemaugh River Valley. In 1889, this town suffered from a flood from the nearby Conemaugh and Stony Creek Rivers, which were normally kept at bay by the South Fork Dam. However, water managed to flow over the dam and result was one of the most devastating disasters in U.S. history in terms of fatalities. Approximately 2,200 people were killed. However, no construction efforts were made to control future flooding until 1936.
Tri-State Tornado of 1925
According to USA Today, the Tri-State Tornado of 1925 is perhaps the worst tornado in the recorded history of the United States in terms of destruction and fatalities; over 690 people were killed. This tornado traveled over 219 miles through the Midwest states of Illinois, Missouri and Indiana; most of the home damage and fatalities were in southern Illinois. Tri-State Tornado's had an average ground speed of 62 miles per hour and measured approximately three-quarters of a mile wide. The Fujita tornado intensity scale, created in 1971, estimates this tornado was an F5 -- the scale's highest rating.
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