What are some common natural disasters?

Hurricanes and tropical storms, tornadoes, floods and wildfires are common natural disasters. Earthquakes, heat waves, droughts and thunderstorms are also disasters. Hurricanes and tropical storms are some of the most damaging natural disasters. Flooding, the most common natural disaster, costs the most in terms of property damage.

Wildfires destroy acres of land in days and are common in the western United States. Extremely hot, humid weather is known as a heat wave. As of 2015, heat waves in the United States cause dozens of deaths each year. Around 10,000 severe thunderstorms affect the United States annually, resulting in major damage and causing around 80 deaths.