This list of United States disasters by death toll includes disasters that occurred either in the United States, at diplomatic missions of the United States, or incidents outside of the United States in which a number of U.S. citizens were killed. Domestic deaths due to war in America are included except the American Civil War. For stats on this and U.S. military deaths in foreign locations, see United States military casualties of war and list of battles with most United States military fatalities. Due to inflation, the monetary damage estimates are not comparable. Unless otherwise noted, the year given is the year in which the currency's valuation was calculated.

Over 1,000,000 deaths

FatalitiesYearArticleTypeLocationDamage (US$)Comments 1,131,819 2020–2023 COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Pandemic Nationwide see Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Fatalities estimated. Deadliest known disaster in United States history.

Over 100,000 deaths

FatalitiesYearArticleTypeLocationDamage (US$)Comments725,000+since 1999Opioid epidemic in the United StatesDrug EpidemicNationwideSecond-deadliest disaster in United States history. Deadliest drug epidemic in United States history. 700,000The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States: The Basics - Kaiser Family Foundation since 1981 HIV/AIDS in the United States Pandemic Nationwide Fatalities estimated. Third-deadliest disaster in United States history. 675,0001918 Pandemic (H1N1 virus) - United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1918 – 1920 1918 influenza pandemic Pandemic Nationwide Fatalities estimated. Fourth-deadliest disaster in United States history. 116,0001957-1958 Pandemic (H2N2 virus) - United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1957 – 1958 1957–1958 influenza pandemic Pandemic Nationwide Fatalities estimated. Fifth-deadliest disaster in United States history. 100,0001968 Pandemic (H3N2 virus) - United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1968 1968 influenza pandemic Pandemic Nationwide Fatalities estimated. Sixth-deadliest disaster in United States history.

Over 400 deaths

FatalitiesYearArticleTypeLocationDamage (US$)Comments8,542+1919–19301919–1930 encephalitis lethargica epidemicEpidemicUnited StatesThis statistic comes from recorded deaths 1919–1925. If the epidemic increased by its usual rate of 500–1,000 per year until 1927 the death toll could be over 10,500. 6,000–12,000 1900 1900 Galveston hurricane Tropical cyclone Texas $34,000,000 (1900)The deadliest natural disaster in United States history. 5,000 1936 1936 North American heat wave Heat wave United States, Canada 4,000+ 1862 Great Flood of 1862 Flood Western United States $100,000,000(1862) 3,389 1899 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane Tropical cyclone Puerto Rico, East Coast of the United States $20,000,000(1899) 3,000+ 1906 1906 San Francisco earthquake Earthquake and fire (urban conflagration) San Francisco, California $235,000,000(1906) Conflagration followed quake; fatalities estimated; also major casualties in Santa Rosa and San Jose. Deadliest earthquake in U.S. history. 2,996 (2,977 ex. perps) 2001 September 11 attacks Terrorism New York City, Arlington County, Virginia, and Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania $10,000,000,000(2001) 2,977 victims and 19 hijackers. Deadliest disaster in New York City and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 2,982 (estimated) 2017 Hurricane Maria Tropical cyclone Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, East Coast of the United States $94,500,000,000(2017) Total includes at least 2,975 deaths based on a study by GWU on the estimated excess mortality. The official death count was previously 64. The storm caused $90 billion (2017 USD) in damage in Puerto Rico, and three deaths in the U.S. Virgin Islands, plus 75 deaths and $1.6 billion in damage across the rest of the Caribbean. 2,823 1928 1928 Okeechobee hurricane Tropical cyclone Florida, Puerto Rico $800,000,000(2005) 4,000+ believed dead total. Includes 2,511+ in the contiguous United States, 312 in Puerto Rico. 2,467 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor Military strike – bombing Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii and nearby military installations 2,403 U.S. victims and 64 Japanese attackers. Deadliest attack on U.S. soil by a foreign government. 2,209 1889 Johnstown Flood Accident – dam failure Pennsylvania Much rain, deforestation; dam failed 2,000 1893 1893 Cheniere Caminada hurricane Tropical cyclone Louisiana Fatalities estimated 1,700 1980 1980 United States heat wave Heat wave Central and southern states $20,000,000,000(1980 USD) Official death toll, may have been higher 1,547-1,864 1865 Sultana Accident – shipwreck Marion, Arkansas Steamboat sank due to boiler explosion; fatalities estimated. Deadliest maritime disaster in U.S. history 1,500–2,500 1871 Peshtigo Fire Wildfire Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula of Michigan Fatalities estimated; most deaths in one fire in U.S. history 1,500 1896 1896 Eastern North America heat wave Heat wave Northeastern United States, Midwestern United States Fatalities estimated 1,392 2005 Hurricane Katrina Tropical cyclone Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Ohio $125,000,000,000 (2005) Tied with Hurricane Harvey as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. 1,173 1943 Military strike – bombing Mediterranean Sea Luftwaffe glide bomb hit troopship causing the largest loss of U.S. soldiers (1,050) at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 1,021 1904 Accident – shipwreck East River near New York City Steamship sank due to fire on board. Deadliest maritime disaster in New York City, and deadliest disaster in city's history until 2001. 1,000–2,000 1893 1893 Sea Islands hurricane Tropical cyclone Georgia, South Carolina Fatalities estimated 1,000 1918 1918 Cloquet fire Wildfire (rural) Minnesota $7,300,000 918 1978 Jonestown Mass murder Jonestown, Guyana Jim Jones, cult leader of the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, convinced most of the group to drink grape Flavor Aid poisoned with cyanide or to inject themselves and their children with cyanide, totaling 909 deaths of U.S. nationals. A family of four other Temple members committed murder/suicide by knife in Georgetown. Five others were shot and killed while trying to escape from Jonestown, including U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan. 879 1945 Military strike – submarine Philippine Sea Largest loss of life in the history of the U.S. Navy at sea 844 1915 Accident – shipwreck Chicago, Illinois Passenger ship capsized in Chicago harbor while loading charter for company picnic, causing great loss of life despite shallow water and proximity to land. Deadliest disaster in the history of Great Lakes shipping, and deadliest disaster in Chicago history. 819 1944 Military strike – submarine English Channel Approximately 763 United States Army soldiers drowned. 800 1875 1875 Indianola hurricane Tropical cyclone Louisiana, Texas Fatalities estimated 749 1944 Exercise Tiger Military strike – E-boats English Channel USS LST-289, and LST-531 sunk during a training exercise. 747 1925 Tornado outbreak of March 18, 1925 Tornado outbreak Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee $1,650,000,000(2005) At least 12 tornadoes, including the following: 1925 tri-state tornado: 695 deaths (deadliest tornado in U.S. history) Buck Lodge, Tennessee/Beaumont, Kentucky: 41 deaths 745 1919 1919 Florida Keys hurricane Tropical cyclone Florida, Texas Including 488 deaths aboard 739 1995 Chicago Heat Wave of 1995 Heat wave Chicago, Illinois 683 1942 Military strike – submarine Guadalcanal Sunk by submarine while retreating with damage from naval battle of Guadalcanal. 682–800 1938 1938 New England hurricane Tropical cyclone 675 1943 Military strike – submarine Greenland United States troopship. 650 1913 Great Flood of 1913 Flood Central United States, Eastern United States Fatalities estimated 644 1943 Military strike – submarine Gilbert Islands Submarine torpedo detonated the aircraft carrier's bomb magazine during Operation Galvanic. 602 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire Fire (building) Chicago, Illinois Worst theater fire in American history; worst single-building fire. 600 1928 St. Francis Dam Accident – dam failure Santa Clarita, California 581 1947 Texas City disaster Accident – explosion Texas City, Texas Ammonium nitrate on board ship 501+ 1896 Tornado outbreak sequence of May 1896 Tornado outbreak sequence Central United States, Southern United States $2,900,000,000(1997) At least 38 tornadoes, including the following: 1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado: 255–400 deaths Sherman, Texas: 73+ deaths Ortonville–Thomas–Oakwood, Michigan: 47+ deaths Seneca–Oneida, Kansas/Falls City, Nebraska: 25+ deaths Imbs–Germantown, Illinois: 24 deaths 500+ 1804 1804 Antigua–Charleston hurricane Tropical cyclone Southeastern United States 500 1865 American steamship General Lyon (1864) Accident – fire, shipwreck Off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina Fatalities estimated 500 1871 Great Michigan Fire Wildfire (rural) Michigan Fatalities estimated 492 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire Fire (building) Boston, Massachusetts Deadliest nightclub fire ever, and second-deadliest structure fire in U.S. history; loss of life due to blocked exits; burn victims were among the first treated with penicillin 476–1,000+ 1927 Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster Industrial, silicosis Gauley Bridge, West Virginia 178 admitted deaths, 476 with congressional inquiry, 1,000+ by epidemiologists. 454+ 1936 1936 Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak Tornado outbreak Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee At least 12 tornadoes, including the following: Tupelo, Mississippi: 216+ deaths Gainesville, Georgia: 203+ deaths450–8001862Dakota War of 1862Massacre 428 1913 1913 (Ohio) statewide flood Flood Ohio 418+ 1894 Great Hinckley Fire Wildfire (rural) Hinckley, Minnesota and vicinity 416 1957 Hurricane Audrey Tropical cyclone Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama $147,000,000(1957) 408 1935 1935 Labor Day hurricane Tropical cyclone Florida

201 to 400 deaths

FatalitiesYearArticleTypeLocationDamage (US$)Comments 400 1857 Accident – shipwreck Off the coast of Georgia Fatalities estimated 400 1860 Accident – shipwreck Chicago, Illinois 400 1888 Great Blizzard of 1888 Blizzard Northeastern United States Fatalities estimated 400+ 1898 Portland Gale Storm New England 385 1937 Ohio River flood of 1937 Flood Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois $5,000,000,000 383+ 1917 May–June 1917 tornado outbreak sequence Tornado outbreak sequence Midwestern United States, Southeastern United States $6,880,000 At least 66 tornadoes, including the following: Mattoon–Charleston, Illinois: 101+ deaths Tiptonville, Tennessee/Dublin, Kentucky: 67 deaths Sumiton–Morris, Alabama: 27 deaths Cheney–Florence, Kansas: 23 deaths Blytheville, Arkansas/Como, Tennessee: 18 deaths Ellsinore–Drum, Missouri: 18 deaths 383 1950 Great Appalachian Storm of November 1950 Blizzard Eastern United States $66,700,000(1950) 380+ 1911 1911 Eastern North America heat wave Heat wave Northeastern United States 372 1926 1926 Miami hurricane Tropical cyclone Florida 372 1944 Accident – explosion New Guinea Ammunition ship explosion. 371+ 1909 1909 Grand Isle hurricane Tropical cyclone Gulf Coast of the United States 362 1907 Monongah mining disaster Accident – coal mine Monongah, West Virginia 361 1913 Great Dayton Flood Flood Dayton, Ohio Flood was created by a series of three winter storms that hit the region in March 1913 348 2011 2011 Super Outbreak Tornado outbreak Midwestern United States, Southern United States, Eastern United States ~$11,000,000,000(2011) Including 24 non-tornadic deaths; 367 tornadoes, including the following: Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, Alabama: 72 deaths Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, Alabama: 64 deaths Rainsville, Alabama: 25 deaths Smithville, Mississippi: 23 deaths Shoal Creek Valley–Ohatchee–Piedmont, Alabama/Cave Spring, Georgia: 22 deaths