The United States has been struck by more than its fair share of natural disasters, from hurricanes to floods and wildfires. In some cases, places get hit so hard that they’re decimated and never recover, like Centralia in Pennsylvania.

But the American spirit is strong, and many communities are able to rebuild and recover after disaster strikes. Here are some of the most notable.

St. Louis, Missouri

It may be a thriving modern metropolis today, but the third biggest tornado in history once ravaged St. Louis. On May 27, 1896, a devastating twister worked its way through the city and into East St. Louis, changing the landscape and causing damage that is estimated to equate to $700 million in today’s money.

Residents united in the rebuild, and just eight years later, St. Louis hosted the World’s Fair. The area is always at risk from the weather, but one look at present-day St. Louis makes it hard to imagine the devastating effects of 1896.

Paradise Coast, Florida

Many areas of Florida were devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017, but the Paradise Coast recovered quicker than most. The category five storm took out the power here, but one of the biggest issues concerned the subsequent flooding.

Less than three months after the event, Paradise Coast looked virtually unchanged from pre-Irma days. If you’d been asleep in the intervening period, you may have even felt that the Hurricane had bypassed this region.

Anchorage, Alaska

A monumental earthquake changed the face of Anchorage when it hit the city in 1964. It struck Prince William Sound at a magnitude of 9.2, a seismic measurement with drastic consequences. The effect was felt over a vast distance, but Anchorage was hit hardest, with landslides and the destruction of homes and city blocks.

Rebuilding began slowly, but the oil boom of 1968 helped to boost the funding effort. The reconstruction is now complete, and Anchorage has learned valuable lessons, becoming a center for monitoring and research of seismic activity.

Galveston, Texas

Galveston was faced with the task of recovering from the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. In 1900, the city was at the mercy of a category four storm that would destroy 80% of the area. The hurricane was mainly responsible for causing investors to switch to Houston, making that city a financial powerhouse.

The city restored essential services quickly before beginning a longer rebuild. In the present day, the economy of Galveston has turned around. At the same time, the Galveston Seawall, a coastal barrier built in the aftermath of the storm, has made it into the National Register of Historic Places.

Houston, Texas

Ironically, Houston took a little while to recover from its worst natural disaster. Hurricane Harvey had a devastating impact on the city in 2017, with many tourist attractions and local businesses temporarily closed. 68 people sadly died as a direct consequence of this Grade 4 storm.

Some buildings, including the Wortham Theater Center, have yet to reopen, but to be fair to the city’s residents, they worked hard to help Houston rebuild. Homes and businesses as a whole recovered quickly from the disaster.

Greensburg, Kansas

Tornadoes are measured by the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, and the highest level is five. An EF5 twister hit the residents of Greensburg on May 4, 2007. This extreme weather phenomenon laid waste to 95% of the town, causing $268 million in damages.

Not only was Greensburg rebuilt, the City Council took the opportunity to recover in the best possible way. Appropriately, this is now one of the greenest cities in the U.S., with solar panels and wind turbines powering a new and positive Greensburg.

Chicago, Illinois

A disaster of a different kind struck this city in 1871 when a small fire quickly spread to become the Great Fire of Chicago. The blaze raged for two days, destroying 3.3 miles of the city. Around 17,500 buildings were damaged, and approximately 300 people lost their lives.

It was a dark period in Chicago’s history, but the residents were resilient, participating in a project that would become known as the ‘Great Rebuilding.’ The fire also led to a response from the Chicago School, a group of architects whose influence can be seen in modern-day Chicago.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

The American Red Cross came to the rescue when Johnstown needed them most. The area was devastated when the Great Flood of 1889 arrived here. Twenty million tons of water was unleashed on the town, and to put that in context, around the same levels pass over Niagara Falls every 36 minutes.

The Red Cross, founded in 1881, helped a vast rebuilding effort to help Johnstown recover, although the magnitude of the flood and the devastation that it caused will never be forgotten.

San Francisco, California

It may not have been the most catastrophic natural event in U.S. history, but it has become the most famous. In 1906, the San Andreas fault broke just off the coast of San Francisco. A colossal, 7.9 magnitude earthquake followed, lasting around a minute. Widespread fires were next, as the event laid waste to 500 city blocks.

Rebuilding was inevitably slow, but the authorities and residents of San Francisco did a remarkable job. By 1915, hardly any visible damage remained.

31 Ways to Boost Home Security: How to Fortify Your Fortress and Deter Burglars

We sadly live in a society where it’s all too common for criminals to want to take what we’ve worked hard to get. The results of a break-in are traumatic, too. Beyond just losing your stuff. Victims often feel violated, anxious, and unsafe, sometimes for years after the event.

Prevention is the best way to stay safe. And, while you shouldn’t have to turn your home into a fortress, that’s the stark reality of our world. But you can take plenty of simple steps to deter burglars and ensure your home is less attractive to would-be thieves.

25 Winter Foraging Foods to Save Money on Your Grocery Bill

With food prices going up by 15% from October 2021 to October 2023, finding ways to cut down your grocery bills is more important than ever. Winter foraging is an awesome way to add to your pantry for free. Yes, you get free food in the form of wild edibles, but it’s also fun for the whole family, gets you moving, and reconnects you with nature.

Even though foraging in winter seems hard compared to the bounty of late summer, there’s still plenty out there if you know where to look. Plus, if things do go south, you need to know how to get wild foods to survive when there are no old-world supplies to access.

23 Smart Ways to Preserve Food

Preserving food is an art as much as it is a science, tapping into our ancestral roots and addressing modern needs. Whether you’re looking to avoid waste, prepare for leaner times, or simply enjoy the fruits of your labor year-round, these 23 smart methods will guide you through. I’m a huge fan of preserving things I find on sale, gluts of produce from my homestead, or produce I’ve bartered with someone else.

Katy Willis is a writer, lifelong homesteader, and master herbalist, master gardener, and canine nutritionist. Katy is a preparedness expert and modern homesteader practicing everyday preparedness, sustainability, and a holistic lifestyle.

She knows how important it is to be prepared for whatever life throws at you, because you just never know what’s coming. And preparedness helps you give your family the best chance to thrive in any situation.

Katy is passionate about living naturally, growing food, keeping livestock, foraging, and making and using herbal remedies. Katy is an experienced herbalist and a member of the CMA (Complementary Medical Association).

Her preparedness skills go beyond just being “ready”, she’s ready to survive the initial disaster, and thrive afterward, too. She grows 100% organic food on roughly 15 acres and raises goats, chickens, and ducks. She also lovingly tends her orchard, where she grows many different fruit trees. And, because she likes to know exactly what she’s feeding her family, she’s a seasoned from-scratch cook and gluten-free baker.

Katy teaches foraging and environmental education classes, too, including self-sufficient living, modern homesteading, seed saving, and organic vegetable gardening.

Katy helps others learn forgotten skills, including basic survival skills and self-reliance.

She’s been published on sites such as MSN, Angi, Home Advisor, Family Handyman, Wealth of Geeks, Readers Digest, and more.