The Jan. 13 Costa Concordia cruise line disaster left several people dead and missing after the ship went off route, hit a reef and ran aground. The captain abandoned ship before everyone was evacuated. It’s unclear how often cruise ships sink. See a list of past incidents. Other cruises that have sunk
As we saw in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina, the force of a hurricane can destroy homes, lives and even an entire city. Hurricane katrina new orleans
Although Katrina took place in August, the US may be more likely to get hit by a hurricane in September. The odds of your city being hit by a hurricane in September, +odds of being hit by a hurricane 1 in 2.18, hurricane season June 1st and ends November 30th
Being struck by lightning can affect a person mentally, effects of lightning strike + difficulty with short-term memory + multitasking + irritability , physically, effects of lightning strike + intense headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, emotionally, effects of lightning strike + become irritable and easy to anger or worse, Over the past 30 years, lightning has killed an average of 58 people each year. Odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime + 1/6250, Odds of being struck by lightning in a given year + 1/500,000, U.S. National Park Ranger Roy Sullivan + record for being struck by lightning seven times, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
A meteorite is an object from space, usually made of these meteorites + composed of rock or metallic iron-nickel, that survives impact with the earth's surface. Odds of being killed by a meteorite i+ about 1 in 700,000, Gerrit Blank + hit by meteorite + Germany
Fans of this suspenseful series may be wary of the dangers of flying. But for others, the friendly skies are the only option when it comes to travel. The odds an airplane passenger will be involved in a plane crash in a year are 1 in 10,790,000, Tenerife plane crash claimed the lives of 583 people + March 27, 1977. US Airways Flight 1549 plane crash + all aboard reported safe + 2009, what to do plane crash
Selachophobia sufferers and Peter Benchley fans may never wade in the surf. Peter Benchley + author of Jaws. New Smyrna Beach Florida + shark attacks, a person's chance of getting attacked by a shark is 1 in 11.5 million, a person's chance of getting killed by a shark is less than 1 in 264.1 million
Getting a royal flush, ace + king+ queen + jack + 10 + royal flush in five-card poker will earn you ultimate bragging rights. Winning World Series of Poker with a royal flush. Odds of drawing a royal flush are 1 in 649,740,
Lottery payoffs can differ depending on the state and the game. But for those aiming to try their luck, the Mega Millions prize is where the big money is. The odds a Mega Millions entry will win the jackpot are 1 in 175,700,000, $390 million won March 6, 2007, The odds a Powerball entry will win the jackpot are 1 in 195,200,000, mistake leads to Mega Millions win in Kentucky
We all know the safety tips that help you arrive alive: buckle up for safety, don't drive drunk, minimize distractions, Oprah + campaign against distracted driving. But sometimes tragedy strikes. +1 in 84 odds of dying in a car accident, drivers in southern states dying in higher-than-acceptable numbers + CDC, Auto accidents cost each American more than $1,000 a year + 2008 study
For superstitious types, the four-leaf clover, Oxalis tetraphylla + four leaf clover, can help ward off bad omens, or help find these good ones, Four-leaf clover + can help you see fairies. Odds of finding a four-leaf clover are 1/10,000, Edward Martin has found 160,000 four-leaf clovers
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but for a unique gift, a pearl-filled Pinctada is hard to beat. Odds that an oyster will hold a pearl are 1 in 12,000, Pearls are formed inside the shell of certain mollusks as a defense mechanism against a potentially threatening irritant, saltwater + freshwater pearls
Having twins, identical + fraternal twins, can mean double the trouble, Ronnie and Reggie Kray + British organized crime, double the noise, twins Kim and Kelley Deal + The Breeders and double the parental pride when they're successful, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The odds a baby will be part of a twin delivery are 1 in 31.1, famous hollywood twins
Factors affecting divorce run the gamut whether it's money squabbles, irreconcilable differences or headline-grabbing, Schwarzenegger shriver split, reasons such as this one Schwarzenegger love child. 3.4 per 1,000 population + divorce statistics, Marriage calculator + divorce odds, Rupert Murdoch's divorce from Anna Murdoch + $1.7 billion settlement
The Federal Trade Commission estimates this many Americans, The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Have their personal info stolen each year. Thieves can strike in public, "shoulder surfing" + identity theft or online, spam + identity theft. 200 to 1 + odds of having your identity stolen, Deter, Detect, Defend + FTC tips on identity theft, 1-877-ID THEFT + identity theft victim hotline
If only all tornadoes were about ruby slippers and Emerald Cities. Alas, twisters can be deadly business, as we have seen with the recent destruction of the April and May outbreaks, 2011 tornado outbreak. +1-in-60,000 + odds of being killed by a tornado
