12 Times Entire Towns Had to Evacuate Because of a Weather Warning
From hurricanes to wildfires, these 12 towns experienced the wildest weather conditions, forcing everyone to evacuate for safety.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Mother Nature can be unpredictable, and sometimes, it’s not enough to just hunker down and wait. These 12 towns learned the hard way when extreme weather events sent them into full evacuation mode. Whether it was because of rising floodwaters, wildfires, or deadly tornadoes, each of these communities had to leave everything behind and escape nature’s fury.
1. 2017 Houston, Texas - Hurricane Harvey
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In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey battered Houston, unleashing an unprecedented amount of rain that flooded the city. With roads submerged and homes in danger, the authorities ordered a full evacuation of affected areas. The heavy rainfall led to some of the worst flooding in history. Residents had to leave their homes quickly and seek refuge elsewhere, with many never returning to the same homes again.
2. 2019 Paradise, California - Wildfires
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The deadly Camp Fire in Paradise, California, decimated the town in a matter of days. Flames engulfed entire neighborhoods, forcing a swift evacuation of all 26,000 residents. The fire spread quickly, leaving no time for preparation. As the town was reduced to ash, families found themselves without homes, jobs, or schools to return to.
3. 2008 Galveston, Texas - Hurricane Ike
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Hurricane Ike brought terrifying storm surges and fierce winds to Galveston in 2008. In anticipation of massive flooding, the authorities ordered the evacuation of residents in low-lying areas. The storm’s ferocity was so overwhelming that even well-built structures were damaged. Many homes were left submerged, and recovery took years to begin.
4. 2011 Joplin, Missouri - Tornado
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On May 22, 2011, a devastating EF5 tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, leaving destruction in its wake. The tornado was a surprise, as it took a direct path through the city, catching many off guard. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, and evacuations were essential as debris and wreckage blocked escape routes. The town faced an incredibly long recovery as it rebuilt from almost total destruction.
5. 2009 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Hurricane Bill
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While Hurricane Bill didn’t make landfall in South Carolina, its sheer size and power led to an evacuation order for the coastal town of Myrtle Beach. High winds and heavy rain created a dangerous situation, with flooding on the horizon. Even though the storm veered away, the precautionary evacuations ensured no lives were lost. It demonstrated the unpredictable nature of hurricanes and the importance of preparing for the worst.
6. 2016 Fort McMurray, Alberta - Wildfires
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In May 2016, a massive wildfire forced the evacuation of the Canadian town of Fort McMurray. The blaze spread rapidly, with 80,000 residents fleeing to safety. Fueled by dry conditions, the fire raged through the forest and even threatened the town’s oil sands. The town was left in ruins, and many evacuees lost everything in the fire.
7. 2013 Moore, Oklahoma - Tornado
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A powerful EF5 tornado tore through Moore, Oklahoma, in 2013, with winds reaching over 200 miles per hour. The town’s residents had minutes to seek shelter, but many had to evacuate immediately after the storm passed. The tornado killed 24 people and left a devastating path of destruction. For the survivors, it was a race to rebuild their homes and lives from the ground up.
8. 1993 St. Louis, Missouri - Flooding
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The 1993 Great Flood ravaged St. Louis when the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers overflowed. Evacuation orders were issued as floodwaters threatened to submerge large parts of the city. The heavy rains caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Many residents had to leave their homes behind, watching helplessly as the rivers rose higher and higher.
9. 2012 Hurricane Sandy - New Jersey Shore
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Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the New Jersey Shore in 2012, flooding entire towns. Evacuations were ordered for coastal communities as the storm surged through the region, causing widespread destruction. Entire beachfront neighborhoods were left underwater, with power outages and widespread damage. Many towns were never quite the same, and recovery was slow.
10. 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami - Sri Lanka
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In December 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. Though the warning came too late for many, the survivors scrambled to reach higher ground. The tsunami left more than 35,000 people dead and communities in ruins. The entire region had to be evacuated to prevent further loss of life from aftershocks.
11. 2020 New Orleans, Louisiana - Hurricane Laura
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Hurricane Laura, one of the most powerful storms to hit Louisiana, forced thousands of New Orleans residents to evacuate in 2020. The hurricane’s storm surge and winds caused significant damage to the area. Though the city itself was largely spared, surrounding areas saw massive destruction. Evacuations were critical to saving lives, as the storm left behind a trail of devastation.
12. 2005 New Orleans, Louisiana - Hurricane Katrina
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Perhaps one of the most infamous evacuations in history, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans with ferocity in 2005. The flooding caused by levee breaches forced more than a million people to evacuate the city. Despite the advance warning, the devastation was catastrophic, and many residents lost their homes and belongings. The city’s recovery took years, and the memories of the disaster still haunt the region.