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Nuclear and Chemical Accidents Though nuclear power is a good source of energy and is generally not a threat, there have been instances when security measures have failed. Nuclear meltdowns can cause dangerous radiation to escape into the surrounding environment. 1952 Dec. 12, Chalk River, nr. Ottawa, Canada:a partial meltdown of the reactor's uranium fuel core resulted after the accidental removal of four control rods. Although millions of gallons of radioactive water accumulated inside the reactor, there were no injuries. 1953 Love Canal, nr. Niagara Falls, N.Y.:was destroyed by waste from chemical plants. By the 1990s, the town had been cleaned up enough for families to begin moving back to the area. 1957 Oct. 7, Windscale Pile No. 1, north of Liverpool, England:fire in a graphite-cooled reactor spewed radiation over the countryside, contaminating a 200-square-mile area. South Ural Mountains:explosion of radioactive wastes at Soviet nuclear weapons factory 12 mi from city of Kyshtym forced the evacuation of over 10,000 people from a contaminated area. No casualties were reported by Soviet officials. 1976 nr. Greifswald, East Germany:radioactive core of reactor in the Lubmin nuclear power plant nearly melted down due to the failure of safety systems during a fire. 1979 March 28, Three Mile Island, nr. Harrisburg, Pa.:one of two reactors lost its coolant, which caused overheating and partial meltdown of its uranium core. Some radioactive water and gases were released. This was the worst accident in U.S. nuclear-reactor history. 1984 Dec. 3, Bhopal, India:toxic gas, methyl isocyanate, seeped from Union Carbide insecticide plant, killing more than 2,000 and injuring about 150,000. 1986 April 26, Chernobyl, nr. Kiev, Ukraine:explosion and fire in the graphite core of one of four reactors released radioactive material that spread over part of the Soviet Union, eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and later western Europe. 31 claimed dead. Total casualties are unknown. Worst such accident to date. 1987 Sept. 18, Goiânia, Brazil:244 people contaminated with cesium-137 from a cancer-therapy machine that had been sold as scrap. Four people died in worst radiation disaster in Western Hemisphere. 1999 Sept. 30, Tokaimura, Japan:uncontrolled chain reaction in a uranium-processing nuclear fuel plant spewed high levels of radioactive gas into the air, killing two workers and seriously injuring one other. 2004 Aug. 9, Mihama, Japan:nonradioactive steam leaked from a nuclear power plant, killing four workers and severely burning seven others. 2007 July 17, Kashiwazaki, Japan:radiation leaks, burst pipes, and fires at a major nuclear power plant followed a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near Niigata. Japanese officials, frustrated at the plant operators' delay in reporting the damage, closed the plant a week later until its safety could be confirmed. Further investigation revealed that the plant had unknowingly been built directly on top of an active seismic fault. 2008 February 7, Port Wentworth, Georgia:an explosion fueled by combustible sugar dust killed 13 people and injured several others at the Imperial Sugar plant near Savannah. 2011 March 12, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Japan:an explosion in reactor No. 1 caused one of the buildings to crumble to the ground. The cooling system at the reactor failed shortly after the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. By Tuesday, March 15, two more explosions and a fire had officials and workers at the plant struggling to regain control of four reactors. The fire, which happened at reactor No. 4, was contained by noon on Tuesday, but not before the incident released radioactivity directly into the atmosphere.
Droughts and Heat Waves 1930s Many states:longest drought of the 20th century. Peak periods were 1930, 1934, 1936, 1939, and 1940. During 1934, dry regions stretched solidly from N.Y. and Pa. across the Great Plains to the Calif. coast. A great “dust bowl” covered some 50 million acres in the south-central plains during the winter of 1935–1936. 1955 Aug. 31–Sept. 7, Los Angeles:8-day run of 100°-plus heat left 946 people dead. 1972 July 14–26, New York City:891 people died in 14-day heat wave. 1980 June–Sept., central and eastern U.S.:an estimated 10,000 people were killed during the summer in a long heat wave and drought. Damages totaled about $20 billion. 1982–1983 worldwide:El Niño caused wildly unusual weather in the U.S. and elsewhere throughout 1983. Drought in the western Pacific region led to disastrous forest fires in Indonesia and Australia. Overall loss to world economy was over $8 billion. Similar event in 1997–1998 resulted in estimated loss of $25–$33 billion. 1988 Summer, central and eastern U.S.:a severe drought and heat wave killed an estimated 5,000–10,000 people, including heat stress-related deaths. Damages reached $40 billion. 1995 July 12–17, Chicago:739 people died in record heat wave. 1996 Fall 1995–summer 1996, Tex. and Okla.:severe drought in southern plains region caused $4 billion in agricultural losses; no deaths. 1998 Summer, southern U.S.:severe heat and drought spread across Tex. and Okla., all the way to N.C. and S.C, killing at least 200. Estimated damages of $6–$9 billion. 1999 Summer, eastern U.S.:rainfall shortages resulted in worst drought on record for Md., Del., N.J., and R.I. The state of W.Va. was declared a disaster area. 3.81 million acres were consumed by fire as of mid-Aug. Record heat throughout the country resulted in 502 deaths nationwide. 2000 Spring–summer, southern U.S.:severe drought and heat killed an estimated 140 people. Damages were estimated at $4 billion. 2003 May–June, southern India:a monthlong intense heat wave claimed more than 1,500 lives. Aug., Europe:drought conditions and a heat wave, one of the worst in 150 years, broke temperature records from London to Portugal, fueled forest fires, ruined crops, and caused thousands of deaths. (French fatalities estimated at more than 14,000.) 2006 July 16–25, California:a two-week heat wave killed at least 140 people. 2007 August, southeastern U.S.:more than 50 deaths and innumerable cases of heat-related illneses have been attributed to the excessive heat. Drinking water sources, such as Atlanta's Lake Lanier, have also been severely depleted. 2008 June 4, California:With reservoir levels well below average and the state experiencing its driest spring in 88 years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger officially declares that California is in a drought and warns of potential rationing. It is the first such declaration in 17 years. 2012 Spring, several states:A national drought begins in the spring of 2012 due to the lack of snow the U.S. received during the previous winter. The drought causes 123 deaths and over $40 billion in damages.
U.S. Tornadoes Find a list of the most deadly and intense tornadoes in the U.S. with casualty information. 1840 May 6, Natchez, Miss.:tornado struck heart of the city, killing 317 and injuring over 1,000. 1880 April 18, Marshfield, Mo.:series of 24 tornadoes demolished city, killing 99 people. 1884 Feb. 19, Miss., Ala., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Ky., Ind.:series of 60 tornadoes caused estimated 800 deaths. 1890 March 27, Louisville, Ky.:twister hit community and caused 76 deaths. 1896 May 27, eastern Mo. and southern Ill.:series of 18 tornadoes; 1 tornado destroyed large section of St. Louis, Mo., killing 255. 1899 June 12, New Richmond, Wis.:tornado struck while circus was in town, causing 117 deaths. 1902 May 18, Goliad, Tex.:tornado killed 114. 1903 June 1, Gainesville, Holland, Ga.:twister caused 98 deaths. 1905 May 10, Snyder, Okla.:tornado killed 97. 1908 April 24–25, La., Miss., Ala., Ga.:18 tornadoes resulted in 310 deaths (143 of these caused by 1 tornado that moved from Amite, La. to Purvis, Miss.). April 24, Natchez, Miss.:twister struck, causing 91 deaths. 1913 March 23, eastern Nebr. and western Iowa:Easter Sunday: 8 tornadoes resulted in 181 deaths (103 in Omaha, Nebr.). 1917 May 26, Mattoon, Ill.:tornado smashed area, causing 101 deaths. 1920 April 20, Starkville, Miss.; Waco, Ala.:tornado killed 88. 1924 June 28, Lorain, Sandusky, Ohio:tornado swept through cities, causing 85 deaths. 1925 March 18, Mo., Ill., Ind.:the “Tri-State Tornado” was the most violent single twister in U.S. history. It caused the deaths of 695 people and injured over 2,000. Property damage was estimated at $16.5 million. 1927 May 9, Poplar Bluff, Mo.:twister killed 98. Sept. 29, St. Louis, Mo.:a five-minute tornado ripped through the city and caused 79 deaths. 1932 March 21–22, Ala., Miss., Ga., Tenn.:outbreak of 33 tornadoes killed 334 (268 in Ala.). 1936 April 5–6, Deep South:series of 17 tornadoes; 216 killed in Tupelo, Miss., and 203 killed in Gainesville, Ga. 1944 June 23, W. Va., Pa., Md.:4 tornadoes caused 153 deaths. 1947 April 9, Woodward, Okla.:tornado demolished town, killing 181. 1952 March 21–22, Ark. and Tenn.:28 tornadoes caused 204 deaths. 1953 May 11, Waco, Tex.:a single tornado killed 114. June 8, Flint, Mich.:tornado killed 115. June 9, Worcester, Mass.:tornado hit town, killing 90. 1955 May 25, Udall, Kans.:tornado killed 80. 1965 April 11–12, Midwest–Great Lakes region:tornadoes in Iowa, Ill., Ind., Ohio, Mich., and Wis. caused 256 deaths. 1967 April 21, northern Ill., also Mo., Iowa, lower Mich.:series of 52 tornadoes caused 58 deaths. 1971 Feb. 21, Miss., La., Ark., Tenn.:series of 10 tornadoes resulted in 121 deaths. 1974 April 3–4:a series of 148 twisters within 16 hours comprised the deadly “Super Tornado Outbreak” that struck 13 states in the East, South, and Midwest. Before it was over, 330 died and 5,484 were injured in a damage path covering more than 2,500 mi. 1979 April 10, northern Tex. and southern Okla.:11 tornadoes caused 59 deaths. 1984 March 28, N.C. and S.C.:22 tornadoes caused 57 deaths. 1985 May 31, Pa. and Ohio:27 tornadoes resulted in 75 deaths. Estimated damages were $450 million. 1990 Aug. 28, northern Ill.:fast-moving tornado struck the southwest suburbs of Chicago, killing 29 and injuring more than 300. 1992 Nov. 21–23, southeast Tex. to Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley:total of 94 tornadoes caused 26 deaths and $291 million in damage. 1994 March 27, Ala., Ga., and N.C.:Palm Sunday tornado outbreak resulted in 42 deaths and 320 injuries. Property damages reached $107 million. Twenty people died and 90 were injured when a tornado caused the roof of a church near Piedmont, Ala., to collapse. 1997 May 27, central Tex.:multiple tornadoes, including one particularly strong twister that devastated the town of Jarrell, caused 29 deaths and an estimated $20 million in damage. 1999 Jan. 17–22, Tenn. and Ark.:a series of tornadoes left 17 dead. Damages were estimated at $1.3 billion. May 3, Okla. and Kans.:unusually large twister, thought to have been a mile wide at times, killed 44 people and injured at least 748. A separate tornado killed another 5 and injured about 150 in Kans. Damages totaled at least $1 billion. 2000 Feb. 14, southwest Ga.:at least 5 tornadoes struck southwest Ga., killing 19 people and injuring over 100. 2002 Nov. 9–11, central and southeast U.S.:series of more than 70 tornadoes across 9 states from Miss. to Pa. killed 36 people. 2003 May 1–10, southern and midwestern U.S.:more than 400 tornadoes in 10 days killed 42. 2006 March–April, plains, Tenn, and Ohio valley, U.S.:more than 500 tornadoes killed 47 people in the 2–month period. 2007 March 1, Ala., Minn., Miss., and Ga.:a series of tornados killed about 20 people, including eight high school students. May 7, Kans.:ten people died in a Category F-5 tornado that completely wiped out a small Kansas farming town.
Typhoons 1906 Sept. 18, Hong Kong:typhoon with tsunami killed an estimated 10,000 people. 1934 Sept. 21, Japan:typhoon killed more than 4,000 on Honshu. 1949 Dec. 5, off Korea:typhoon struck fishing fleet; several thousand men reported dead. 1958 Sept. 27, Honshu, Japan:“Vera” left nearly 5,000 dead and 1.5 million homeless. 1959 Aug. 20, Fukien province, China:“Iris” killed 2,334. 1960 June 9, Fukien province, China:“Mary” caused at least 1,600 deaths. 1984 Sept. 2–3, Philippines:“Ike” hit seven major islands, leaving 1,300 dead. 1991 Nov. 5, central Philippines:flash floods from tropical storm “Thelma” killed about 3,000 people. City of Ormoc on Leytewas worst hit. 2003 Sept. 12, South Korea:With winds up to 130 mph, Typhoon Maemi, one of the most powerful typhoons to hit South Korea in a century, kills at least 110 people, disrupts electrical power and communications systems, knocks over ships in the port, and forces the evacuation of thousands from their homes. 2004 Oct. 20, Japan:Typhoon Tokage, the deadliest typhoon to hit Japan in more than two decades, kills at least 80 people as heavy rains flood tens of thousands of houses and trigger numerous landslides. The typhoon produces a record (since 1970) 80 ft (24 m) high wave, eight-stories high. 2007 Aug.18, Taiwan:Typhoon Sepat, hit Taiwan with winds over 120 mph, cutting power supplies to nearly 57,000 homes, killing over 40 people, injuring 12 more, and forcing more than a thousand others to evacuate. 2008 June 21, the Philippines:a ferry, thePrincess of the Stars, is struck by Typhoon Fengshen, killing most of the 865 passengers and crew. There are 59 known survivors. Almost 500 other people die during the storm. July 28, Taiwan:Typhoon Fung Wong, hit the east central coast of Taiwan with winds over 105 mph, only a week after a tropical storm killed 19 people.
Major Blizzards in the U.S. 1888 Jan. 12, Dakota and Montana territories, Minn., Nebr., Kans., and Tex.:“Schoolchildren's Blizzard” resulted in 235 deaths, many of which were children on their way home from school. March 11–14, East Coast:“ Blizzard of 1888” resulted in 400 deaths and as much as 5 ft of snow. Damage was estimated at $20 million. 1949 Jan. 2–4, Nebr., Wyo., S.D., Utah, Colo., and Nev.:Actually one of a series of winter storms between Jan. 1 and Feb. 22. Although only 1 ft to 30 in. of snow fell, fierce winds of up to 72 mph created drifts as high as 30 ft. Tens of thousands of cattle and sheep perished. 1950 Nov. 25–27, eastern U.S.:“Storm of the Century” generated heavy snow and hurricane-force winds across 22 states and claimed 383 lives. Damages estimated at $70 million. 1977 Jan. 28–29, Buffalo, N.Y.:“Blizzard of 1977” dumped about 7 in. of new snow on top of 30–35 in. already on the ground. With winds gusting to 70 mph, drifts were as high as 30 ft. Death toll reached 29, and seven western N.Y. counties were declared a national disaster area. 1978 Feb. 6–8, eastern U.S.:“Blizzard of 1978” battered the East Coast, particularly the Northeast; claimed 54 lives and caused $1 billion in damage. Snowfall ranged from 2–4 ft in New England, plus nearly 2 ft of snow already on the ground from an earlier storm. 1993 March 12–14, eastern U.S.:“Superstorm” paralyzed the eastern seaboard, causing the deaths of some 270 people. Record snowfalls (with rates of 2–3 in. per hour) and high winds caused $3 billion to $6 billion in damage. 1996 Jan. 6–8, eastern U.S.:heavy snow paralyzed the Appalachians, the mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast; 187 were killed in the blizzard and in the floods that resulted after a sudden warm-up. Damages reached $3 billion. 1999 Jan. 1–3, Midwest U.S.:major blizzard and sub-zero temperatures wreak havoc in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio; 73 were killed in the blizzard and transportation systems in the region were paralyzed. Damages reached about $500 million.
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