Beginning the cleanup after Hurricane Mitch. Over 9,000 deaths and 9,000 missing were attributed to Mitch making it the second most deadly hurricane in history ranking only below a 1780 hurricane in the Lesser Antilles.

Red Cross worker documenting the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch. Over 9,000 deaths and 9,000 missing were attributed to Mitch making it the second most deadly hurricane in history ranking only below a 1780 hurricane in the Lesser Antilles.

Shelters for the homeless in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. Over 9,000 deaths and 9,000 missing were attributed to Mitch making it the second most deadly hurricane in history ranking only below a 1780 hurricane in the Lesser Antilles.

Shelters for the homeless in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. Over 9,000 deaths and 9,000 missing were attributed to Mitch making it the second most deadly hurricane in history ranking only below a 1780 hurricane in the Lesser Antilles.

Certificate of appreciation for the Weather Service office at Lake Charles, Louisiana, following the passage of Hurricane Audrey. In: "Weather Bureau Topics and Personnel" Vol. 17, Number 3, March 1958. P. 49.

Hurricane of August and September 1848. In: "The Ocean, Atmosphere and Life" by Elisee Recluse, 1873. P. 264. This is one of the earliest storm tracks of a single hurricane showing its northwestardly path and then recurvature to the northeast.

Diagram of the hurricane on the 3rd June 1839 reduced to half-scale from the General Chart, outer circle 530 miles in diameter. Time, Noon. From: "The Law of Storms in India" 1839-1842, by Henry Piddington. Calcutta, Bishop's College Press. First Memoir, 1839. P. 584. This was one of the first diagrams to show the circular shape and circulation of tropical cyclones.

Plate I from "Notes on the Law of Storms" 1842, by Henry Piddington. P. 46, showing the track of a typhoon in the South China Sea, August 2-5, 1839. P. 46.

Plate III from "Notes on the Law of Storms" 1842, by Henry Piddington. P. 46, showing a diagram explaining the recurvature of storms.

Plate II from "Notes on the Law of Storms" 1842, by Henry Piddington. P. 46, showing various diagrams relative to the structure and movement of storms.

View of ruins from the northwest. Remains of dwellings after the passage of the "Great Tornado at Pomeroy." In: "Story of a Storm" by F. W. Sprague, 1893. Library Call No. M 15.3/777S924S .

Appearance of the storm cloud at the Dalton Farm, 3.5 miles west of Pomeroy. In: "Story of a Storm" by F. W. Sprague, 1893. Library Call No. M 15.3/777S924S

Appearance of the storm cloud as it struck Pomeroy. In: "Story of a Storm" by F. W. Sprague, 1893. Library Call No. M 15.3/777S924S

Among the ruins of Pomeroy looking east. Soldiers patrol in the ruins to prevent looting. In: "Story of a Storm" by F. W. Sprague, 1893. Library Call No. M 15.3/777S924S

A young boy with a calf, the sole survivors of one farm struck by the tornado. In: "Story of a Storm" by F. W. Sprague, 1893. Library Call No. M 15.3/777S924S

Launching of a weather balloon from the USNS ELTANIN in the Southern Ocean.

Launching of a weather balloon from the USNS ELTANIN in the Southern Ocean.

Launching of a weather balloon from the USNS ELTANIN in the Southern Ocean.

Launching of a weather balloon from the USNS ELTANIN in the Southern Ocean.

Veteran's memorial with destroyed homes in background. A tall flag pole that used to be on the circular base at the center of the photo was swept away. Someone erected a temporary one with old glory proudly waving.

Commercial shrimp trawlers tossed among destroyed homes on north shoreline of St. Louis Bay

Damage to Casino Magic along St. Louis Bay

Destoyed homes along St. Louis Bay

Oil spill on St. Louis Bay

Destoyed homes along St. Louis Bay

Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. Beach Blvd in foreground.

Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church and St. Stanislaus College. Beach Blvd in foreground.

Destroyed homes and ecological damage along Waveland beachfront.

Geometric pattern of concrete foundations is all that remains of a Biloxi condominium (apartment?) complex.

Biloxi just north of small craft harbor. Parking structure for Hard Rock Casino at lower left.

One of the few remaining structures in the first block back from the Gulf in Biloxi.

Total destruction for a block inland in Biloxi. Note debris line. Note parking spaces at former townhouse or apartment complex in lower right.

Intersection of Cowan Rd and Beach Blvd (Hwy 90)

Destroyed waterpark at intersection of Cowan Rd and Beach Blvd (Hwy 90).

LT Phil Eastman, NOAA (foreground) casinos at Point Cadet, Biloxi (background). Except for a few boat wakes there's hardly a ripple on the water. It was dead calm like this for two weeks after Katrina.

Marina at Beau Rivage Hotel (casino can be seen at upper right). It's hard to imagine how this wooden structure survived intact.

Beau Rivage Casino barge. Unlike many of the other barges, the Beau Rivage stayed in place, however the storm surge and waves completely gutted it.

Beau Rivage Hotel looking east. Eastern tip of Biloxi and the destroyed Hwy 90 bridge to Ocean Springs are visible at top left, Deer Island at top right.

Looking east down Beach Blvd (Hwy 90). Beau Rivage at right, Hard Rock Casino with trademark guitar visible at top center.

Beau Rivage Hotel looking northeast. Hard Rock Casino at far right.

Beau Rivage Hotel looking north.

Severe damage to Broadwater Marina at lower left.

Casino Magic (left) and Isle of Capri (right). St. Michael's Catholic Church at upper left (circular building).

Casino Magic (center) and Isle of Capri (right) Palace Casino (upper right). Barge from Casino Magic hard aground across Beach Blvd next to St. Michaels church (circular building).

Ruins of a church along Beach Blvd.

Toppled construction crane along Beach Blvd just west of Edgewater Mall (far right).

Downtown Biloxi. Large flag flying from hospital at center. FEMA trailers in foreground.

Corner of Howard and Porter Ave.

Damage in the vicinity of Economy Drug Store in downtown Biloxi.

Corner of Howard and Porter Ave.