In 1993, the Mississippi River flood devastated seventeen thousand square miles of land, spanning across nine states. It was the worst flooding epidemic in the history of the United States. It is also referred to as a hundred year flood because the likelihood for it to occur is one in one hundred in any year. Over fifty people died due to the flooding, as well as profound home damage and economic losses totaling $10–12 billion. Twenty percent of the population that surrounded the flood area have since left due to economic hardship or personal troubles. Today, the Mississippi River System is a deeply orchestrated natural trademark in the United States.