Despite damage from Irene, US hasn’t seen ‘major hurricane’ since 2005

Hurricane Wilma, which struck the Gulf coast in 2005 just a month after Katrina devastated the region, was the last major hurricane to hit the United States, according to NOAA. Before Irene, Hurricane Ike, which made landfall in 2008 as a Category 2, was the last hurricane to hit the U.S., though it was not categorized by NOAA as a major hurricane.

Still, NOAA said Monday that Irene was a reminder that the eastern part of the United States remains vulnerable to major storms.

“Irene broke the ‘hurricane amnesia’ that can develop when so much time lapses between landfalling storms,” Jack Hayes, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, said in a statement. “This season is a reminder that storms can hit any part of our coast and that all regions need to be prepared each and every season.”

Irene knocked out power to millions and led to major flooding and more than 40 deaths.

Wednesday officially marks the end of hurricane season.