Past Hurricanes in New York: Most Terrible Pictures

Tropical Storm Irene was downgraded from a hurricane which headed to New York on Sunday killed at least 18 people and caused extensive damage. In fact, in New York City history, there were only a few big hurricanes ever hit New York City. The last of them was Hurricane Gloria in 1985, which caused substantial damage on Long Island.

The Great Atlantic Hurricane in 1944, an intenseAtlantic hurricane was ever compared to the New England Hurricane of 1938. The hurricane cost $100 million in damage or $965 million in 2010, roughly one-third of the 1938 hurricane. Furthermore, 390 lives were lost during the hurricane; most from marine casualties and 46 deaths occurred on land, the low toll due to well-executed warnings and evacuations.

These trees were tilted when the high winds of the Great Atlantic Hurricane swept the corner of Rockefeller Plaza and 49th Street on September 15, 1944, New York

A fast-moving hurricane named Hurricane Carol 1954 with winds up to 100 miles an hour and torrential rains caused destructive waves in Asbury Park

This terrifying picture of an auto gone aground on Montauk Highway at Napeague, Long Island, New York on August 31, 1954, following Hurricane Carol which caused untold damage on eastern end of the island

Hurricane Connie in 1955 caused the heaviest rains of the year. Many cellars were flooded and a lot of roofs made dangerous heavy by the weight of the water, and motor cars accumulated along highways leading to the city.

Motorists took it easy through the underpass at Queens Blvd. and Horace Harding Blvd. on August 12, 1955 in Long Island, New York

This image showed off roads flooded at Long Island, New York on August 12, 1955 because of Hurricane Connie

Tropical Storm Doria in 1971 with torrential rains shattered windows throughout the metropolitan region including this automobile showroom Queens on August 28, 1971 in New York

Pedestrians hurry home with umbrella at the outside Grand Central Terminal as Hurricane Gloria heads to New York City in 1985. At that time, most schools and many businesses in the city are closed in anticipation of the hurricane

The windows of Saks Fifth Avenue were taped up to deal with the arrival of Hurricane Gloria in 1985

The Hurricane Gloria 1985 picture showed off roofs of houses in Fire Island, New York, blown away

A tree was seen on the top of a car in Freeport, Long Island caused by heavy winds and driving rain of Hurricane Gloria in 1985

A tree collapsed in the middle of New York's Fifth Avenue near 94th Street after Hurricane Gloria 1985 with heavy rains and strong winds passed through the city

Muammar Gaddafi: 42 Years in Power

Muammar Gaddafi is famous as the Libyan leader who seized power in a military coup in 1969. With nearly-42 years in power, Muammar Gaddafi has become the fourth longest-ruling non-royal leader since 1900. He is also considered to be the longest-ruling Arab leader ever.

Gaddafi's family was reported to take over much of the economy. The Libyan leader spent billions of his rising oil revenues on international projects, including acquiring both chemical and nuclear weapons in order to start several wars. Gaddafi even directed the country’s revenues to sponsor terror as well as other political activities around the world.

Since 2011, a number of demonstrations against Gaddafi have spread across Libya. Gaddafi since then has lost control of most of eastern Libya and large parts of the west as well. In August 2011, Mr. Gaddafi lost much of Tripoli to the uprising.

The photo taken in 1971 shows the young Muammar Gaddafi in army fatigues

The Libyan military officer Moammar Abu Minyar al-Gadhafi (left) seized power in a military coup in 1969

Mr. Gadhafi has played an important role in the establishment of the Federation of Arab Republics, including Egypt, Libya and Syria. In the photo, Gadhafi attended the signing ceremony of the federation

The Libyan leader was in a press conference in 1986 where he introduced to American journalists about his family

Colonel Muammar Gadhafi waved to supporters from a balcony of his Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli after delivering a speech condemning the United States in 1986

Gadhafi’s wife Sofiya Gaddafi and his children were photographed in 1986

Muammar Gaddafi posed with Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Tripoli, Libya in 1977

Mr. Gaddafi arrived at a graduation at the women's military academy in Tripoli in 1981

Muammar Gaddafi talks to correspondents outside the compound that was bombed by U.S. warplanes in 1986

Gaddafi attended at a parade to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Libyan revolution in Tripoli in September 1987

Colonel Gaddafi was reported to have close relations with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The two leaders had a photo together in Marsa Matrouh, a main Egyptian tourist city in 1989

British Prime Minister Tony Blair met Libyan leader Gaddafi in 2004

The Libyan leader shook hands with President Barack Obama at the 2009 G8 Summit held in L'Aquila, Italy

Libyan leader Gaddafi addressed the Libyan nation on state television, vowing to fight against protesters and die a martyr in February 2011