10 Tennessee Disasters That Will Make You Shudder

Beginning on January 29th, 1951, the blizzard lasted for a whole three days before leaving Nashville buried under a thick layer of ice and snow. After leaving more than two million dollars in damages and eighty thousand residents without power, the blizzard blew out at its own leisurely pace. In the aftermath, the people of Nashville rushed from their homes and created what is known as the worst Tennessee traffic jam in the states history. With more than five miles of cars at a stop we have to say - Nashville could've given LA a run for its money.

Occurring merely seven miles out of Memphis on the Mississippi River, the Sultana disaster is known as the worst maritime disaster in the entirety of American history. It was on April 27, 1865 near two in the morning that a boiler exploded in the belly of the ship, resulting in the death of close to 1,700 people - cracking the Titanic toll by more than 200.

April 15 and 16 wasn't too kind to middle Tennessee in 1998. Two tornadoes touched down in downtown Nashville, creating more than 133 million dollars. Twelve people died as a result.

In 1811-1812, a series of earthquakes known as the New Madrid 'quakes rocked the tri-state area. There were three separate shakes that clocked in at more than 7.0. The aftermath resulted in the Mississippi River flowing backwards, and a series of lakes in Tennessee - one of which is Reelfoot Lake.

On November 5, 1912, twenty-five million gallons of water rushed out of the reservoir when a rupture caused a one-hundred and seventy-five foot breach. It is said that many citizens of the capital city awoke when water came rushing into their homes. Thankfully, no lives were lost.

With 101 lives lost and 171 injuries, the wreck at Dutchman's Curve was a deadly beginning to July 9, 1918. Two passenger trains collided, leaving the city of Nashville reeling from the lives lost and damage that ensued.

Considered to be a flood that occurs only every thousand years, the rainfall that occurred in two days crested 19 inches. Record highs were recorded across the state, including both Crossville and the city of Centerville. There were 31 deaths that were directly related to the flood.

On March 25, 1911, in Allapaha, Tennessee, the train ran into the river of the same name, killing ten passengers. The train was coming from Chicago and was enroute to Jacksonville, Florida.

33 inmates and 9 visitors were killed when the Maury County Jail caught fire, on June 26, 1977. The blaze was caused by a rogue cigarette.

Known as the worst ever mine disaster in state history, an explosion resulting in the death and entrapment of 216 miners. May 19, 1902 was a year of heartache for the town of Fraterville, marking the tiny town in history forever.