1. Pearl Harbor (1941)
   • On December 7, 1941, a surprise attack by Japan on the Hawaiian naval base killed 2,403 Americans, leading to U.S. involvement in World War II.
2. September 11, 2001
   • The 9/11 attacks saw 19 terrorists hijack four planes, crashing into the Pentagon, World Trade Center, and a Pennsylvania field, resulting in 2,973 deaths and national trauma.
3. COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
   • The global pandemic hit the U.S. hard, with over 16 million cases and the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths by December 2020. It also caused widespread job loss and stress.
4. Galveston, Texas Hurricane (1900)
   • The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, this Category 4 hurricane killed an estimated 12,000 people and destroyed much of Galveston.
5. San Francisco Earthquake (1906)
   • A massive earthquake on April 18, 1906, killed around 3,400 people and destroyed 80% of San Francisco, with fires causing additional devastation.
6. Hurricane Maria (2017)
   • Striking Puerto Rico as a Category 5 hurricane, it caused at least 2,975 deaths and $90 billion in damages, severely impacting the island for months.
7. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (1989)
   • A tanker malfunction spilled 10 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Pacific waters, causing extensive environmental damage that is still being addressed today.
8. Johnstown Flood (1889)
   • The first disaster attended by the American Red Cross, this flood killed 2,209 people when a dam break sent 20 million gallons of water into the Mississippi River.
9. Peshtigo Fire (1871)
   • Fierce winds turned a manageable fire into a disaster, killing around 1,500 people and burning 1,875 square miles.
10. Hurricane Katrina (2005)
    • This devastating hurricane flooded 80% of New Orleans, caused $80 billion in damages, and resulted in 1,833 deaths, affecting the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas.
11. Hurricane Harvey (2017)
    • Making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, it caused $125 billion in damages and significant flooding, becoming the rainiest Atlantic hurricane on record.
12. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010)
    • The worst oil spill in U.S. history occurred when an oil rig exploded, leaking over 3 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and killing 11 people.

These disasters highlight the incredible resilience and unity of the American people, who come together in times of crisis to rebuild and support one another.