A History Of Violence: Hurricanes In The US

Irma was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 miles (215 kilometers) per hour when it slammed into the Florida Keys

Irma, the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Caribbean, has made landfall in Florida, lashing the state with fearsome wind gusts and storm surges.

AFP report continues:

Below is a list of the largest storms to hit the United States in the last 25 years.

- 2017: Harvey -

Hurricane Harvey, a Category Four storm, reaches Texas on August 25, unleashing catastrophic rainfall that floods large areas and leads to the deaths of at least 33 people. Houston, America's fourth-largest city, bears the brunt of the flooding.

The estimated cost of the damage wrought by Harvey could eventually top US$100 billion.

- 2012: Sandy -

Category Three Hurricane Sandy barrels into the eastern seaboard at the end of October 2012, causing at least 200 deaths in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

At least 40 people are killed in New York City alone in what is one of the costliest hurricanes ever witnessed in the US.

- 2011: Irene -

Irene strikes the eastern United States in late August 2011, killing 43 people across 11 states.

Vermont is among the worst affected, with Irene bringing rainfall leading to the most serious flooding there for 75 years.

- 2005: Katrina, Rita and Wilma -

Hurricane Katrina, the deadliest in US history, pounds the southern states of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana in August 2005, leading to the deaths of around 1,800 people and inflicting more than US$150 billion worth of damage.

Around 80 percent of New Orleans is submerged as the city's flood defenses give way.

A month later, with millions still unable to return to their homes, Hurricane Rita hits the Gulf Coast, killing 10 people in Texas and Mississippi.

A further 24 people die during the evacuation of more than three million people from their homes.

And in October Wilma, the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded at the time in the Atlantic basin, kills 18 people in Florida and leaves millions more without power.

- 2004: Charley, Frances and Ivan -

Florida's coastline is ravaged by hurricanes Charley and Frances in August 2004, with more than 50 people killed and over US$20 billion worth of damage.

A month later, Ivan batters the Caribbean and southeastern United States, killing at least 108 including 38 in the US.

- 2001: Allison -

Allison careers into Texas in June 2001 before passing over Louisiana, Florida and Pennsylvania, killing 35.

Record rainfall hits Houston, causing flood levels only surpassed by Harvey 16 years later.

- 1999: Floyd -

Hurricane Floyd overwhelms flood defenses on the East Coast, killing 61 people between North Carolina and New York in September 1999.

- 1996: Fran -

Fran pounds North Carolina and Virginia in September 1996 with 110 mile per hour (180 kilometer per hour) winds and torrential rain that leaves 22 dead.

- 1994: Alberto -

Flooding caused by Tropical Storm Alberto kills 31 people in Georgia and Alabama in July 1994, as well as forcing around 50,000 to flee to safety.

- 1992: Andrew -

Category Five Hurricane Andrew, the strongest storm to hit the US until Irma, barrels into Florida, Louisiana and the Bahamas, killing 65 people. Miami is particularly hard-hit, with damage costing at least US$34 billion.