Econ Focus
Economic History
The storm killed more than 2,000 people and plunged Beaufort County, S.C., into an economic decline
By Betty Joyce Nash
Top Five Deadliest Hurricanes
| Hurricane Name (Category at Landfall) | Year | Affected States | Estimated Deaths |
| Galveston (4) | 1900 | TX | 8,000-12,000 |
| Lake Okeechobee (4) | 1928 | FL, GA, SC | 2,500-3,000 |
| Katrina (3) | 2005 | AL, FL, GA, LA, MS | 1,200+ |
| Chenier Caminanda (4) | 1893 | AL, LA, MS | 1,100-1,400 |
| Sea Islands (3) | 1893 | FL, GA, NC, SC | 1,000-2,000 |
NOTE: Hurricanes did not receive formal names until 1953. Before then, the worst storms were typically named after the communities they affected.
SOURCE: "The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones From 1851 to 2004," National Hurricane Center, August 2005 (updated with estimates from National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration for Katrina)
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