Hurricane Irene caused enormous damage in New York state, flooding homes like this one in Prattsville, NY, in 2011. Major weather events like Irene send people to the hospital and can even contribute to deaths for weeks after the storms.

PRATTSVILLE, NY – SEPTEMBER 1: Justin Mudge walks through the muddy interior of his great uncle’s gun shop which was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Irene on September 1, 2011 in Prattsville, NY. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared the Catskill Mountain region a disaster area after rivers rose to record high levels, destroying buildings, roads and bridges.! (Photo by Monika Graff/Getty Images)