FEMA's List of Top 10 U.S. Natural Disasters

Eight hurricanes, one tropical storm and an earthquake make up the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) list of the Top Ten Natural Disasters to affect the United States.

The top ten U.S. natural disasters, based on the total costs of federal relief dollars paid out, include:

1. Hurricane Katrina - 2005 - (AL, LA, MS)
2. Northridge Earthquake - 1994 (CA)
3. Hurricane Georges - 1998 (AL, FL, LA, MS, PR, VI)
4. Hurricane Ivan - 2004 - (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, TN, WVA)
5. Hurricane Andrew - 1992 - (FL, LA)
6. Hurricane Charley - 2004 - (FL, SC)
7. Hurricane Frances - 2004 - (FL, GA, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC)
8. Hurricane Jeanne - 2004 - (DE, FL, PR, VI, VA)
9. Tropical Storm Allison - 2001 - (FL, LA, MS, PA, TX)
10. Hurricane Hugo - 1989 - (NC, SC, PR, VI)

While the year 2004 saw four major hurricanes -- Ivan, Charley, Frances and Jeanne -- spread destruction along the East Coast from Florida to Pennsylvania, their total relief cost of $6.338 billion failed to exceed the $7.2 billion costs of Hurricane Katrina.

FEMA currently recognizes 17 different types of natural disasters from extreme heat, to winter storms.

Also See:
Bush Acknowledges Government's Katrina Failures
White House Issues Final Report on Katrina Response
FEMA's 'Pam' Simulation Foretold Katrina Disaster