Today is the anniversary of the Great Savannah Fire of January 11, 1820, which destroyed over 500 building and costing roughly $4 million (equivalent to $90 million in 2024) in damages. The fire was caused by months of very dry conditions followed by a day with strong winds from the northwest. The high winds fanned the flames and spread the damaging fires for several hours after it started in a livery stable at around 2 am. It was the worst fire that Savannah had had up until that time. Adding to the impact, the burned out buildings and exposed cellars accumulated stagnant water and provided a fertile breeding ground for yellow fever mosquitoes leading to a severe yellow fever epidemic in the city later that year. You can read more about the causes and impacts of the flood at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Savannah_Fire_of_1820 and https://savannahhistory.home.blog/2021/03/01/1820/.
