Disasters of 2011

The year 2011 has been a bad one for natural global disasters. From floods to twisters to tsunamis, we've seen it all.

Queensland Floods

Residents are seen near homes surrounded by flood water on Jan. 11, 2011 in Oakey, Australia. Flooding in December and January left three-quarters of the state of Queensland declared a disaster zone. Dozens died and more than 200,000 people in 70 towns were affected.

Queensland Floods

This photo taken on Jan. 10, 2011, shows damage caused by flash flooding in the town of Toowoomba, Australia, after entire towns were inundated by one of the worst deluges in decades. Damage from the Queensland flooding has been estimated at $30 billion.

Brazil Floods

Brazil Flood Helicopter — AP Photo/Felipe Dana

Rescue workers get on a helicopter as they leave after searching for survivor and victims in an area affected by a landslide near Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. Mudslides caused by days of steady rain have killed at least 600 in the area and left residents stranded in remote, stricken villages.

Brazil Floods

Brazil Flooding — AFP PHOTO/ANTONIO SCORZA

A paramilitary police officer on duty wears a protective mask to avoid breathing the dust caused by the accumulation of dried mud on the streets, in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, on Jan. 19, 2011.

Christchurch Quake

A wheelchair is seen in a pile of debris outside the Christchurch Cathedral following Christchurch's earthquake, on March 5, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand. A 6.3-magnitude earthquake ripped through Christchurch, causing multiple fatalities as it toppled buildings and buckled streets.

Christchurch Quake

Members of the Japanese Disaster Relief Team working at the CTV building following Christchurch's earthquake, on March 5, 2011, in Christchurch, New Zealand. More than 100 people died and several thousand were injured in what has been called New Zealand's costliest natural disaster. Rebuilding is expected to cost up to $20 billion.

Japan Earthquake

Japan's Self Defence Force soldiers search for missing people in a snow-covered field in Miyako in Iwate prefecture on March 16, 2011. A March 11 9.0 earthquake, the most powerful to hit Japan in a century, left thousands dead and inflicted extensive material damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Japan Earthquake

Survivors shelter at an evacuation center at Watari, Japan — JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

Earthquake survivors shelter at an evacuation center at Watari town in Miyagi prefecture on March 14, 2011.

Japan Tsunami

AP Photo/Kamaishi Port Office via Kyodo News

Toya Chiba, a reporter with the Iwate Tokai newspaper, is swept by a surging tsunami at the port city of Kamaishi, northeastern Japan, as the region was struck by a massive earthquake that spawned the tsunami. Chiba, who was shooting photos at the mouth of the Owatari River when the tsunami struck him March 11, survived and found himself only suffering scratches and bruises after being swept away for about 98 feet.

Japan Tsunami

A fishing boat washed ashore by the March 11 tsunami sits at Shiogama port, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, April 8, 2011. Dozens of nations, including the U.S. were under tsunami warnings as a result of the March 11 earthquake.

Japan Nuclear Disaster

A resident in protective gear throws food kept in a refrigerator into a plastic bag as she returns to her house for the first time since March 11 earthquake and tsunami, near the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Kawauchi, Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan, May 10, 2011. The earthquake and tsunami triggered nuclear shut-downs, failures, and partial meltdowns.

Japan Nuclear Disaster

Smoke billows from the Unit 3 reactor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Radiation had covered the area around the plant and blanketed parts of the complex.

Southern Storms

A path of debris from homes and trees is seen down Chaucer Street on April 29, 2011, in Pratt City, Ala. Alabama was the hardest-hit of six storm-battered states. The death toll from the barrage of storms was put near 300.

Southern Storms

Aerial view of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, one of the hardest-hit cities from a swath of tornadoes that pounded six states and left more than 300 people dead.

Joplin (Mo.) Tornado

Pete Anastosopolos, left, and Cyndi Devore sort through what is left of her home that was destroyed after a massive tornado passed through the town killing at least 116 people on May 24, 2011, in Joplin, Mo. Authorities were prepared to find more bodies in the town of 50,000 people.

Joplin (Mo.) Tornado

Rescue worker and dog search for tornado survivors in Joplin — AP Photo

Police officers walk into the back of a destroyed Walmart store in Joplin, Mo., May 24, 2011.