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20 photos of the worst hurricanes that have hit the United States

Matthew Wilson   

20 photos of the worst hurricanes that have hit the United States
Hurricane Andrew.AP Photo/Charles Krupa
  • Over the past 100-plus years, the United States has been hit by some of its worst hurricanes.
  • In 1900, the Galveston Hurricane killed between 6,000 to 12,000 people.
  • In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused $125 billion in property damage.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

With summer comes hurricane season, as meteorologists turn their gaze to the Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans.

Over the past century, mega-storms have pummeled the United States, killing thousands of people, destroying buildings and homes, and inflicting billions of dollars worth of damage.

From 2005's Hurricane Katrina to 1992's Hurricane Andrew to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, here are 20 photos from the worst hurricanes to have ever hit the United States.

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Harvey impacted Texas' economy, making for a slow recovery in parts.

Harvey impacted Texas
Rockport, Texas.      AMFPhotography/Shutterstock

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused $125 billion worth of damages in Houston.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused $125 billion worth of damages in Houston.
A flooded neighborhood in Texas.      MDay Photography/Shutterstock

According to the Texas Tribune, extreme flooding and strong winds caused billions of dollars of property damage. According to the Office for Coastal Management, Harvey was the deadliest storm to hit Texas since 1919. A total of 68 people died during the storm.

The winds were so strong that it pushed the Jet Star roller coaster off its pier.

The winds were so strong that it pushed the Jet Star roller coaster off its pier.
The Jet Star roller coaster is seen in the Atlantic Ocean off of Seaside Heights, New Jersey.      Sky Cinema/Shutterstock

According to New York Daily News, the roller coaster was pushed into the Atlantic Ocean by the storm. After the storm, workers dismantled the ride.

Several fires broke out because of the storm, burning through neighborhoods.

Several fires broke out because of the storm, burning through neighborhoods.
Burned houses in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.      Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock

More than 80 homes burned to the ground in Queens when one fire got out of control.

When it hit in 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused $70 billion in damage and killed 285 people.

When it hit in 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused $70 billion in damage and killed 285 people.
Flooded streets in Brooklyn.      FashionStock.com/Shutterstock

Sandy had winds of 80 miles per hour when it hit Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to Live Science.

Streets were flooded from New Jersey into New York, where water surged over downtown Manhattan's seawalls and highways into low-lying streets and subways.

In the aftermath of Katrina, water had to be pumped out of flooded areas.

In the aftermath of Katrina, water had to be pumped out of flooded areas.
Water is pumped out of a flooded Metairie, Louisiana.      AP Photo/Steven Senne

According to the Data Center, almost 1 million people in the Gulf Coast were displaced by Katrina.

Thousands of people took shelter in New Orleans' Superdome.

Thousands of people took shelter in New Orleans
The Superdome during Katrina.      AP Photo/Pat Sullivan

The mayor of New Orleans designated the stadium as a "shelter of last resort" for people the day before Katrina hit, according to the History Channel. Almost 10,000 people sought shelter at the Superdome, and another 15,000 were accepted after the storm hit.

In the days that followed the storm, supplies remained limited as the occupants waited for evacuation. The government was criticized by many for a slow reaction to the storm.

When it hit Louisiana in 2005, Hurricane Katrina became the costliest storm to make landfall in the US.

When it hit Louisiana in 2005, Hurricane Katrina became the costliest storm to make landfall in the US.
Flooding in New Orleans during Katrina.      AP Photo/Eric Gay

Property damage caused by the storm totaled over $125 billion. The Mississippi Gulf Coast and Louisiana were ravaged by the storm, destroying many buildings.

The storm surge from the hurricane breached the levees in New Orleans, causing mass flooding across the city. Nearly 80% of the city was underwater, with levels being so high in certain areas like St. Bernard Parish and the Ninth Ward that people climbed to their attics and rooftops.

The damage caused by Andrew totaled $26.5 billion.

The damage caused by Andrew totaled $26.5 billion.
Helen Bendetti and an insurance representative.      AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

According to the National Park Service, Andrew was the most expensive storm of its time, until it was overtaken by Hurricane Katrina 15 years later.

Andrew negatively impacted both the economy and environment of Florida.

Andrew negatively impacted both the economy and environment of Florida.
Palm and coconut trees snap during a wind gust.      AP Photo/Charles Krupa

According to the National Park Service, the storm defoliated many large trees, and about 25% were broken. Almost a third of the pine trees in Everglades National Park were badly damaged by the winds.

In the aftermath of the storm, 250,000 people were left homeless and 82,000 businesses were destroyed or damaged.

When it hit Florida, Hurricane Andrew had winds strong enough to blow this sailboat ashore.

When it hit Florida, Hurricane Andrew had winds strong enough to blow this sailboat ashore.
A sailboat sits on a sidewalk at Dinner Key in Miami.      AP Photo/Terry Renna

Andrew was a Category 5 hurricane that struck southern Florida and south-central Louisiana. According to Geology.com, Andrew's wind speeds were estimated at 167 miles per hour, but like Camille, the instruments were destroyed, leaving its exact speed unknown.

In the aftermath, citizens tried to return to everyday activities.

In the aftermath, citizens tried to return to everyday activities.
Anthony Piernas helps Linda Porter hang laundry.      AP Photo/Jack Thornell

Though they tried, it was difficult. According to the National Weather Service, a storm surge of 24.6 feet hit the town.

In the days following Camille, fresh water was scarce for survivors.

In the days following Camille, fresh water was scarce for survivors.
An 11-year-old Carl Wright in the aftermath of Camille.      AP Photo/Jack Thornell

In the photo, 11-year-old Carl Wright can be seen drinking from a broken pipe among the rubble of his father's gas station in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Hurricane Camille had the highest speeds of any hurricane to hit the US when it made landfall in 1969.

Hurricane Camille had the highest speeds of any hurricane to hit the US when it made landfall in 1969.
Parnell McKay looks at the aftermath left by Camille.      AP

Winds reached an estimated 190 miles per hour as the storm moved across Mississippi. Maximum sustained winds are unknown because the hurricane destroyed all the wind-recording instruments in the area, according to Geology.com.

According to the National Weather Service, Camille is another one of the four Category 5 hurricanes that made landfall in the US.

The winds were so powerful that they swept an 11-car passenger train off its tracks.

The winds were so powerful that they swept an 11-car passenger train off its tracks.
Aftermath of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.      AP

According to USA Today, the hurricane destroyed the railroad tracks that connected the Florida Keys to the mainland.

Among the victims were World War I veterans working on a highway, according to the World Digital Library. They were waiting for a rescue train to evacuate, but the winds derailed it before it ever arrived.

The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane is one of four storms in US history that have made landfall as a Category 5 storm.

The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane is one of four storms in US history that have made landfall as a Category 5 storm.
Aftermath from the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.      AP

"People were picked up and thrown around like rag dolls," Brad Bertelli, curator of the Keys History & Discovery Center in Islamorada, told the Sun Sentinel. "Bodies were blown all the way across Florida Bay to Cape Sable."

The Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928 was the second-deadliest hurricane to hit the US.

The Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928 was the second-deadliest hurricane to hit the US.
Aftermath of the Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928.      Everett Historical/Shutterstock

In 1928, the hurricane made landfall as a Category 4 storm that claimed between 1,770 to 2,300 lives in central Florida. Winds from the storm blew water from Lake Okeechobee into a storm surge that reached 6 to 10 feet high and spilled into nearby cities. Homes, roads, and businesses were flooded, and over 1,000 people drowned.

The Miami Hurricane of 1926 crippled Florida for decades.

The Miami Hurricane of 1926 crippled Florida for decades.
The Miami Hurricane of 1926's aftermath.      R. B. Holt/Getty Images

As previously reported by Insider, there was little warning of the approaching hurricane. Citizens of Miami who didn't realize the storm was still ongoing left their homes as the hurricane's eye passed over and skies cleared. However, the eye is the center of the storm, so what followed resulted in more death and destruction.

In total, 372 people died, over 6,000 people were injured, and the property damage totaled $164 billion in today's dollars.

A large section of Galveston was destroyed by the storm.

A large section of Galveston was destroyed by the storm.
Aftermath from the hurricane in 1900.      AP

Two of the reasons the hurricane resulted in such a high death toll were the lack of any warning and the high storm surge of 8 to 15 feet.

According to Fox 13 News, the hurricane destroyed 3,600 homes. It caused the equivalent of $641 million worth of damage in today's dollars.

The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 was, and still is, the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States.

The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 was, and still is, the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States.
Aftermath from the hurricane in 1900.      AP

The hurricane hit Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900, as a Category 4 hurricane.

According to History, an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people were killed by the hurricane, making it the nation's deadliest storm, even 120 years later.

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