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Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19, 1995, a truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring about 600, including children. Timothy McVeigh, a Gulf War veteran, planted the bomb with help from Terry Nichols. Linked with white Nationalist groups, they sought revenge for Ruby Ridge and Waco. The bombing was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism at the time, highlighting the growing threat of anti-government extremism in the US. (Kruse Zelizer, 220-221) -
Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes in the US. Two hit the Twin Towers in New York City, one hit the Pentagon in Washington DC, and one into a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back. About 3,000 people died. 9/11 remains the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil, leading to years of military conflict in the Middle East and increased islamophobia. The tragedy also united Americans and showed the world the nation's resilience. (Kruse and Zelizer, 249–251) -
Hurricane Katrina
In August 2005, Category 5 Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans when levees broke and caused massive flooding. With $108 billion in damages and 1,833 deaths, it remains one of the worst hurricanes in US history. Emergency response was slow on helping citizens, most of which were poor and Black. Images from New Orleans exposed the flaws in disaster response and highlighted social inequalities, shaping future emergency management policies. (Kruse and Zelizer, 280-281)