Historical Context
Hurricane Irma was the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the open Atlantic region, and was extremely destructive to several countries it hit: Barbuda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands, as well as in the mainland USA.
The hurricane formed on August 30 and dissipated on September 30, 2017. It became a Category 5 Hurricane on September 5, with maximum sustained winds of 180mph (280km/h). The destruction was severe as it traversed the Caribbean, with 95% of buildings on the island of Barbuda destroyed. Most residents were evacuated to Antigua, rendering the island uninhabited for the first time in modern history. A number of other Caribbean islands were completely devastated by the storm.
Irma made landfall in the US state of Florida as a Category 3, where it caused widespread damage, with a minimum of $50 billion, though not as much as had been forecast.
The affected areas had little respite however, as Hurricane Maria formed two weeks later, hitting some of the same areas and devastating Puerto Rico.
Photo Info
Photographer: NOAA/NASA
Date taken: September 10, 2017
Location taken: Coast of Florida, Atlantic Ocean
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Related Events
- 2017-08-30 Hurricane Irma forms near Cape Verde Islands, will go on to become category 5 hurricane and kill at least 102
- 2017-09-05 Hurricane Irma becomes the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin region with winds of 185mph (280km/h)
- 2017-09-06 Hurricane Irma makes landfall on Caribbean islands of Barbuda, Sint Maartens and British Virgin Islands. Prime Minister Gaston Browne reports 95% of buildings in Barbuda damaged.
- 2017-09-10 Hurricane Irma makes landfall in the Florida Keys in the US as a category 3 hurricane
- 2017-09-11 Hurricane Irma leaves 7 million US homes without power in Florida and Georgia
- 2017-09-13 Nursing home inhabitants rescued after losing their air-conditioning in aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Hollywood, Florida, 11 die
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