Watch Mega Disasters

2006
3 Seasons
7.6 (128)

Mega Disasters from History is an American television series that ran from 2006 to 2008. The show is a documentary-style program that explores some of the biggest natural disasters in history. The show was hosted by J.V. Martin, Roger Tilling, and Laura MacDonald.

The show provides a comprehensive understanding of some of the most significant environmental events that have shaped the world as we know it today. The program covers natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding, and examines the causes and the impact of the disasters.

The series is designed for those who have an interest in the history of natural disasters and want to better understand the forces of nature responsible for shaping the world's geography. The program offers a fascinating insight into the natural disasters of the past and provides an understanding of the potential risk of future cataclysms.

The first season of the show aired in 2006 and covered natural disasters such as the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, which killed 57 people and unleashed a devastating pyroclastic flow. Another episode covered the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, which is the most significant earthquake ever recorded, with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale. The show explores how the earthquake and its associated tsunami killed over 5,000 people and caused widespread damage across the region.

The second season of the show aired in 2007 and covered events such as Hurricane Katrina, which is considered one of the most significant storm disasters recorded in US history. The storm killed over 1,800 people and led to natural turmoil that caused widespread destruction of property and economic loss. The series also covered the Boxing Day tsunami, which killed over 200,000 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.

The third season of the show aired in 2008 and covered the stories of natural disasters, including the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, which killed over 36,000 people and led to significant environmental damage worldwide. Additionally, the series discussed the New Madrid earthquakes that occurred in 1811 and led to severe destruction across Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas.

The show uses a mix of archive footage, interviews with experts, and analysis from scholars in the field of disaster management and modeling. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of the forces of nature that have shaped the world, highlighting the efforts of researchers in predicting and managing potential disasters in the future.

The hosts of the show, J.V. Martin, Roger Tilling, and Laura MacDonald, offered a captivating and informative presentation of the disasters. They provide a balanced approach to discussing the human impact of the natural mishaps and also the root causes of the disasters.

In conclusion, Mega Disasters from History is a fascinating television series that covers some of the most significant natural disasters in history. The program takes an in-depth look at the forces of nature that have shaped the world today and provides an understanding of why they occur. The show does an excellent job of balancing the academic and human perspectives surrounding each disaster while retaining viewer attention throughout the episodes. The combination of archival footage and expert analysis helps the show to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of natural disasters in history.

Mega Disasters is a series that ran for 3 seasons (35 episodes) between May 9, 2006 and on History

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Seasons

3 2 1

11. Deadly Jet Collision

July 15, 2008

A scenario demonstrates the potential for disaster from a "runway incursion" at a busy airport; 583 people are killed when two airliners collide in the Canary Islands in 1977; 34 people die when two planes collide in Los Angeles in 1991.

8. Prehistoric English Superflood

August 29, 2008

Could the island nation of Great Britain have once been connected to Europe by land? Listen to a new theory and evidence which suggests that the English Channel was created by one of the largest floods ever. Did a violent storm re-shape the European continent? Might this happen again? Dramatic 3-D animations recreate what this prehistoric mega storm may have looked like and unravel the mystery behind the creation of England.

7. Hypercane

August 12, 2008

65 million years ago a massive asteroid crashed into Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. 75% of all life on Earth vanished but could a single asteroid have been the lone killer? From global warming to lethal worldwide firestorms, many theories about the impact's deadly aftermath have been postulated. But in 1995 a new theory asserted that a powerful mega-storm known as a "Hypercane" caused the extinction. The hypothetical Hypercane could reach 20 miles into the stratosphere with wind speeds of up to 700 miles per hour! MEGA-DISASTERS shows through stunning 3-D computer animations how this monster storm could have brought down nearly all life on the planet.

6. Dam Break

August 5, 2008

March, 1996. A freight train carrying roughly one-million pounds of propane derails in Weyauwega, Wisconsin. One of the tankers goes off like a bomb and the entire town is evacuated. In 2001, a train tunnel fire billows clouds of hydrochloric acid over Baltimore's downtown core. Luckily, neither accident resulted in injury or death. While these and similar scenarios pose warnings of transporting dangerous goods, the possibility of an even greater catastrophe may have recently increased. The U.S. Department of Energy plans to transport 77,000 tons of nuclear waste across the country by land, sea and rail. If the proposal is realized, we may be open to a potential disaster that could kill more than a thousand, and costs billions to clean up.

5. Oil Apocalypse

July 29, 2008

The world we've created runs on oil, but the oil won't last forever. Many experts predict that it will begin to run out sometime this century. We are now living in a world in which the gap between supply and demand is ever increasing. Can we find enough new cost-effective methods to extract the oil that remains and buy the time we need to develop alternative energy systems? While some say technology will save us, others believe it's already too late. The best-case scenario is a worldwide depression -- far worse than that of the 1930s. The worst-case scenario? Try to imagine what happens when our industry, our agriculture and our communications grind to a halt. What ensues is a deadly scramble for the basic necessities of life -- neighbor against neighbor, nation against nation -- as the struggle descends into outright warfare.

4. Volcanic Winter

July 22, 2008

Following a massive eruption of the volcano Toba on the island of Sumatra 75,000 years ago, the entire planet faced years of dramatically lower temperatures while the ash filled the surrounding atmosphere. Examined is the theory that this event may have been the deciding factor in the race between modern humans and neanderthals.

3. Atlantis Apocalypse

July 15, 2008

A recollection of an eruption 4000 years ago of the Thera volcano at the site which is now Santorini, Greece, and the resulting tsunami which occurred. Also, a discussion of the possibility of another eruption in the near future.

2. Airborne Attack

July 1, 2008

An investigation of what an airborne anthrax attack would consist of.

1. Comet Storm

June 3, 2008

An examination of a firestorm ignited by an exploding comet which appeared over Eastern Canada. Included is a look at the devastation left by the fire and its effect on the prehistoric Clovis culture.

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Where to Watch Mega Disasters

Mega Disasters is available for streaming on the History website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Mega Disasters on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime and History Vault.