Before-and-after pictures of the worst hurricanes in American history | 24/7 Wall St. has collected before-and-after images depicting the horrific effects of some of the worst hurricanes to strike the United States in recent history. We reviewed information from the National Hurricane Center on 18 major hurricanes since 2000 that caused at least $3 billion in damages. Regard the peaceful scenes of life in normal weather, then the aftermaths of these violent superstorms, and remember how punishing the natural world can be. (Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons)
15. Isaac (before) | Damage: $3.02 billion – Area pictured: Grand Isle, Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 70 mph – Date of landfall: August 2012 (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
15. Isaac (after) | Damage: $3.02 billion – Area pictured: Grand Isle, Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 70 mph – Date of landfall: August 2012 (Louisiana GOHSEP/Wikimedia Commons)
14. Dennis (before) | Damage: $3.20 billion – Area pictured: Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 120 mph – Date of landfall: July 2005 (Andyminicooper/Wikimedia Commons)
14. Dennis (after) | Damage: $3.20 billion – Area pictured: Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 120 mph – Date of landfall: July 2005 (PA3 Robert M. Reed/Wikimedia Commons)
13. Gustav (before) | Damage: $6.96 billion – Area pictured: Mississippi – Max wind speed at landfall: 135 mph – Date of landfall: August 2008 (studioimagen/iStock)
13. Gustav (after) | Damage: $6.96 billion – Area pictured: Mississippi – Max wind speed at landfall: 135 mph – Date of landfall: August 2008 (Wikimedia Commons)
12. Isabel (before) | Damage: $7.37 billion – Area pictured: Hatters Island, North Carolina – Max wind speed at landfall: 90 mph – Date of landfall: September 2003 (U.S. Geological Survey/Wikimedia Commons)
12. Isabel (after) | Damage: $7.37 billion – Area pictured: Hatters Island, North Carolina – Max wind speed at landfall: 90 mph – Date of landfall: September 2003 (U.S. Geological Survey/Wikimedia Commons)
11. Matthew (before) | Damage: $10.30 billion – Area pictured: North Carolina – Max wind speed at landfall: 130 mph – Date of landfall: October 2016 (Ken Badgley/iStock)
11. Matthew (after) | Damage: $10.30 billion – Area pictured: North Carolina – Max wind speed at landfall: 130 mph – Date of landfall: October 2016 (gsagi/Getty Images)
10. Allison (before) | Damage: $11.82 billion – Area pictured: Houston, Texas – Max wind speed at landfall: 45 mph – Date of landfall: June 2001 (Joe Raedle/Newsmakers/Getty Images)
10. Allison (after) | Damage: $11.82 billion – Area pictured: Houston, Texas – Max wind speed at landfall: 45 mph – Date of landfall: June 2001 (Harris County Flood Control District)
9. Irene (before) | Damage: $14.98 billion – Area pictured: Pine Island, New York – Max wind speed at landfall: 100 mph – Date of landfall: August 2011 (FEMA)
9. Irene (after) | Damage: $14.98 billion – Area pictured: Pine Island, New York – Max wind speed at landfall: 100 mph – Date of landfall: August 2011 (FEMA)
8. Charley (before) | Damage: $21.12 billion – Area pictured: Key West, Florida – Max wind speed at landfall: 130 mph – Date of landfall: August 2004 (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/Getty Images)
8. Charley (after) | Damage: $21.12 billion – Area pictured: Key West, Florida – Max wind speed at landfall: 130 mph – Date of landfall: August 2004 (8632225@N08/Flickr)
7. Rita (before) | Damage: $23.68 billion – Area pictured: Holly Beach, Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 100 mph – Date of landfall: September 2005 (NOAA)
7. Rita (after) | Damage: $23.68 billion – Area pictured: Holly Beach, Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 100 mph – Date of landfall: September 2005 (NOAA)
6. Wilma (before) | Damage: $24.32 billion – Area pictured: Florida Keys – Max wind speed at landfall: 130 mph – Date of landfall: October 2005 (Josh Ritchie/Getty Images)
6. Wilma (after) | Damage: $24.32 billion – Area pictured: Florida Keys – Max wind speed at landfall: 130 mph – Date of landfall: October 2005 (Averette (Marc Averette)/Wikimedia Commons)
5. Ivan (before) | Damage: $27.06 billion – Area pictured: Pensacola, Florida – Max wind speed at landfall: 105 mph – Date of landfall: September 2004 (NASA Earth Observatory)
5. Ivan (after) | Damage: $27.06 billion – Area pictured: Pensacola, Florida – Max wind speed at landfall: 105 mph – Date of landfall: September 2004 (NASA Earth Observatory)
4. Irma (before) | Damage: $50.00 billion – Area pictured: Florida Keys – Max wind speed at landfall: 155 mph – Date of landfall: September 2017 (felixmizioznikov/iStock)
4. Irma (after) | Damage: $50.00 billion – Area pictured: Florida Keys – Max wind speed at landfall: 155 mph – Date of landfall: September 2017 (Matt McClain/Getty Images)
3. Sandy (before) | Damage: $70.20 billion – Area pictured: Seaside Heights, New Jersey – Max wind speed at landfall: 100 mph – Date of landfall: October 2012 (Kirkikis/Getty Images)
3. Sandy (after) | Damage: $70.20 billion – Area pictured: Seaside Heights, New Jersey – Max wind speed at landfall: 100 mph – Date of landfall: October 2012 (seclemens/Getty Images)
2. Harvey (before) | Damage: $125.00 billion – Area pictured: Houston, Texas – Max wind speed at landfall: 115 mph – Date of landfall: August 2017 (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
2. Harvey (after) | Damage: $125.00 billion – Area pictured: Houston, Texas – Max wind speed at landfall: 115 mph – Date of landfall: August 2017 (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
1. Katrina (before) | Damage: $160.00 billion – Area pictured: New Orleans, Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 110 mph – Date of landfall: August 2005 (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
1. Katrina (after) | Damage: $160.00 billion – Area pictured: New Orleans, Louisiana – Max wind speed at landfall: 110 mph – Date of landfall: August 2005 (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
