When was the last time such conditions existed in a Western nation?

[fujiyama]

The last thing I can think of is WWII, which ended up with the destruction of several cities, people starving to death and the collapse of society in general.

But a natural disaster causing this kind of chaos in a western industrialized nation, let alone the "richest and most powerful"?

[wli]

1. unprecedented AFAIK n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. It's all Clinton's fault. nt.

[izzie]

3. Lets see I recall when people took over in countries and WW2

Guess for once I was right about some thing. The GOP just does not understand what govt. is for and can not run things. They are in the penthouse where the people are on the ground floor and one can not rule from the pent house in this day and age. That was gone with WW1. Congress and the President were running things faster than this for Terry, the poor women in Fa. but not for these people in the South. Unbelievable.

[leftchick]

4. I would say the 19th century

just a guess

:(

[leveymg]

5. Th 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

A lot of the same grim elements followed that catastrophe, as well as a deadly fire.

[NYC]

7. I also think the 1906 earthquake.

[teryang]

6. The great depression

This is most analogous situation IMHO. This will be the equivalent of the great drought in terms of the natural diaster precipitating a financial and economic crisis of unprecedented proportions.

[NYC]

8. The dust bowl was a natural disaster.

But it was a longer type of disaster, not hit and run like an earthquake or hurricane.