1. The Great Ogeechee Hurricane of 1804
One of the earliest and most destructive hurricanes in Savannah history.
Massive storm surge flooded the city.
Wiped out crops, homes, and businesses.
Considered one of the worst early U.S. hurricanes.
2. The 1820 Yellow Fever Epidemic
A devastating outbreak that killed nearly one-tenth of Savannah’s population.
Bodies overwhelmed local cemeteries.
Mass graves were dug in Colonial Park Cemetery.
One of the darkest public health disasters in Savannah’s early years.
3. The Great Fire of 1889
This inferno destroyed over 1,000 buildings and leveled entire blocks.
Started on West Broad Street.
Winds spread the fire rapidly.
By morning, 40 acres of the city were gone.
4. The Sea Islands Hurricane of 1893
This is one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history (2,000+ deaths).
Floodwaters reached Tybee and the outskirts of Savannah.
Entire communities wiped out.
Massive economic damage to coastal Georgia.
5. The SS Pulaski Disaster (1838) — “The Titanic of the South”
A luxurious steamship traveling from Savannah to Baltimore exploded at sea.
About 100 people died.
Many prominent Savannah families were on board.
Recent archaeological discoveries recovered artifacts and confirmed the shipwreck.
6. The 1876 Yellow Fever Epidemic
Another deadly outbreak — even worse than 1820.
Over 1,000 deaths in Savannah alone.
The city’s port quarantine systems completely failed.
Haunted Savannah lore often references this era.
7. The Civil War and the Burning of the Port (1864)
While Sherman spared most of Savannah, the port facilities, ships, and warehouses burned.
Confederate troops set fire to valuable supplies before evacuating.
A ship explosion burned for hours in the harbor.
8. The Tornado of 1940
A rare but intense tornado struck downtown and the east side.
Dozens injured.
Homes ripped apart.
One of the strongest tornadoes in Savannah history.
9. The Great Freeze of 1899
A freak winter disaster that brought temps to 8°F.
Killed crops, livestock, and citrus groves across coastal Georgia.
Economic devastation for local farmers.
Ice formed on the Savannah River.
10. Hurricane Matthew (2016) — Modern Devastation
A more recent disaster people still remember.
Massive tree loss across the Historic District.
Flooding on Tybee and Wilmington Island.
Historic cemeteries and squares badly damaged.
