Hurricane Irene Category 1
Irene had already lost some of its power when it hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Aug. 27. What it lacked in speed it made up for in size and destruction. The storm killed at least 40 people as it moved up the East Coast cutting off power to five million and causing an estimated $7 billion damage, making it one of the most costly ever. Much of that won't be insured, as most policies don't cover flooding. And this was one wet storm, dumping up to 14inches of rain on parts of North Carolina. In New Jersey, thousands were evacuated yet several people were killed by overflowing rivers and streams. New York City -- which shut down its transit system for the first time ever -- dodged the worst. Some suburbs were left for days without power. -- Dan Beucke
Above, Melvin Flores, 35, uses a pail to scoop floodwaters out of his utility room in his apartment after rain from Hurricane Irene on Aug. 28, 2011 in Little Falls, N.J. Flood waters rose all across New Jersey, closing roads from side streets to major highways and leaving 600,000 homes and businesses without power. Photographer: Julio Cortez/AP
