The 16 most destructive hurricanes in US history
Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, has started slamming some Caribbean islands as a category 5 storm.
Irma's path suggests it could hit Florida over the weekend, and Florida Governor Rick Scott has told people to "prepare for the worst."
The storm is the latest in an already catastrophic hurricane season, which lasts from June to the end of November for the Atlantic Ocean. It follows Hurricane Harvey, which devastated parts of Texas including Houston last week and caused damage estimated to be worth more than $100 billion.
The US has seen plenty of catastrophic and costly storms throughout its history, with single events causing billions of dollars in damage. Here's a look at some of the most devastating, costly storms ever to hit the US.
Hurricane Opal, 1995: $5.1 billion
In 1995, Hurricane Opal devastated the Florida panhandle before hitting Alabama and Tennessee. The storm caused $5.1 billion worth of damage.
Hurricane Isabel, 2003: $5.3 billion
Hurricane Isabel, the costliest hurricane of the 2003 season, made landfall in North Carolina, impacting much of the Outer Banks. It caused $5.3 billion in damages.
Hurricane Floyd, 1999: $6.9 billion
Hurricane Floyd was a catastrophic storm because of the rain it brought. The downpours caused extreme flooding from North Carolina on up the East Coast as the Category 2 storm traveled north.
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