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Hurricanes at Eye Level: Wind, waves and destruction

Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Uproar

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. ...Waves striking seawall give appearance of geysers erupting. Photo was taken in 1938 off of the New England coast. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Waves of Destruction

Sixteen feet of storm surge struck the Florida Panhandle during Hurricane Eloise. Photo was taken on September 23, 1975. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Close Encounter

This historical image shows a startled man ready to run after hurricane driven wave smashes into seawall, just north of Miami Beach, Florida. Photo was taken in September 1947. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Monster Waves

Shown above is an artist's rendition of "safe" people in high-rise observing storm surge. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Windy City

Flash flooding is severe in the town as a result of the mighty strong winds and heavy downpour of rain in the Corpus Christi, Texas area. Photo was taken on May 10, 1968. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

America's Deadliest

The unnamed Category-4 hurricane that slammed into Galveston, Texas between September 1-10, 1900 remains the deadliest ever to hit the United States, having killed upwards of 6,000 people (estimates vary) and leveling virtually the entire town. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

High Above the Sea

Amazing photo of the significant damage left behind by Hurricane Andrew. The photo shows what is left of the buildings on the Deering Estate Still - watermarks from storm surge measured at 16.5 feet high. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

In the Ground

The photo shows the remains of a house built on a concrete slab. This home was destroyed, as a result of the damage inflicted by Hurricane Eloise, a Category 3 storm. Photo was taken in late September 1975 at the Florida Panhandle. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library/Dr. Joseph Golden

The Big Domino Effect

The oil tanks at Hess Oil Refinery on St. Croix Tanks collapsed because of wind pressure, as a result of Hurricane Hugo, which in effect caused an oil spill. Photo was taken in late September 1989. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library/National Hurricane Center

Collapsed!

Ben Sawyer Bridge to Sullivans Island collapses after passage of Hurricane Hugo. Photo was taken in late September 1989. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Overpowered

These large ships were no match for Hurricane Camille. Photo was taken on August 17, 1969 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Threading the Needle

Close-up of 1X4 board driven through the trunk of a royal palm caused by winds from Hurricane Andrew. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

Major Force

The house in the photo collapsed like a deck of cards, which gives an indication of exactly how strong Category-5 Hurricane Camille winds were. Photo was taken on August 17, 1969 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NASA

Hurricane Francis Pounds the Kennedy Space Center

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida suffered a hit when Hurricane Frances swept across the state Sept. 4, 2004. Teams assessing the damage report that the center weathered the storm fairly well. There was serious damage accessed to the center's landmark structure, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Click to enlarge.
Image Courtesy of NASA

Dismantled Rocket

A Mercury/Redstone rocket on display at the Pass and Identification Building at the entrance to Kennedy Space lies on its side following Hurricane Frances. The storm's path over Florida took it through Cape Canaveral and KSC property on September 4, 2001. Click to enlarge.