5 disasters that are more likely to impact you than winning the lottery
For the third time in the 20-year history of Mega Millions, the jackpot has surpassed the magical $1 billion mark. Friday night’s drawing will be the thirtieth in this jackpot run, which began April 19.
Americans are no strangers to mega lottery jackpots that have everyone from time to time scouring their pockets for a dollar or two to play and try to become the next millionaire.
When it comes down to the chance of actually winning the lottery, the news is a little more sobering. In fact, the odds are so staggering of actually winning the entire kit and caboodle that it’s more likely you’ll be impacted by a natural disaster than actually win the jackpot.
Both of America’s most popular lottery games put the odds of winning the top prize somewhere north of 1 out of 292 million.
To be precise, Powerball lists the odds of matching all six of their numbers at 1 in 292,201,338, and Mega Millions has the odds listed as 1 in 302,575,350.
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When comparing the odds to what Earth and mother nature can throw our way, the odds aren’t even in the same ballpark.
Cold weather death odds: 1 in 6,045 during a lifetime
The National Safety Council puts the odds of dying from cold temperatures at 1 in 6,045 during one’s entire lifetime. Researchers say the combination of wind and low temperatures helps contribute to winter cold spells being more deadly than summer heatwaves.
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KILLEEN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 18: A sign warns of icy conditions on Interstate Highway 35 on February 18, 2021 in Killeen, Texas. Winter storm Uri has brought historic cold weather and power outages to Texas as storms have swept across 26 states with a mix of freezing temperatures and precipitation.
(Joe Raedle/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Hot weather death odds: 1 in 8,248 during a lifetime
The National Safety Council puts the odds of dying from heatstroke during warm weather at 1 in 8,248 during one’s entire lifetime. A survey by the National Center for Health Statistics found that around twice as many people die from cold winter outbreaks than summer heat.
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A thermometer display shows a temperature of 130 Degrees Fahrenheit (54 Degrees Celsius) at the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center at Death Valley National Park in June 17, 2021 in Furnace Creek, California. - Much of the western United States is braced for record heat waves this week, with approximately 50 million Americans placed on alert Tuesday for "excessive" temperatures, which could approach 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) in some areas. The National Park Service warns of extreme summer heat, urging tourists to carry extra water and "travel prepared to survive" in the hottest, lowest, and driest national park featuring steady drought and extreme climates.
(PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Lightning strike odds: 1 in 15,300 during a lifetime
The National Weather Service estimates the odds of a person being struck by lightning during their lifespan at 1 in 15,300. The chances greatly diminish if you’re looking for the odds of being struck in any given year. The NWS puts those odds at 1 out of 1,222,000.
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Photo by R Gray on Unsplash.
Deadly tornado odds: 1 in 71,163 during a lifetime
DiscoverTheOdds.com lists the chance of being caught in a deadly tornado as 1 in 5,693,092 per year or 1 in 71,163 during one's lifetime. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center reports the U.S. sees on average around 1,100 tornadoes a year, which breaks down to about three tornadoes a day.
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(Photo provided by NOAA)
Earthquake death odds: 1 in 131,890 during a lifetime
Live Science calculated the chance of dying in an earthquake from United States Geological Survey data and came up with the odds of 1 in 131,890. The National Earthquake Information Center reports there are about 20,000 earthquakes around the globe each year, which breaks down to around 54 a day.
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People search through the rubble of what used to be the Manguier Hotel after the earthquake hit on August 14, 2021 in Les Cayes, southwest Haiti. - Rescue workers scrambled to find survivors after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti early Saturday, killing at least 304 and toppling buildings in the disaster-plagued Caribbean nation still recovering from a devastating 2010 quake. The epicenter of the shaking, which rattled homes and sent terrified locals scrambling for safety, was about 100 miles (160 kilometers) by road west of the center of the densely populated capital Port-au-Prince.
(STANLEY LOUIS/AFP via Getty Images)