The eye of Hurricane Irma grazed the Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday, rattling buildings after it smashed a string of Caribbean islands as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century, killing 14 people on its way to Florida.

As Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida, an Associated Press analysis shows a steep drop in flood insurance across the state, including the areas most endangered by what could be a devastating storm surge.

A decade-long lucky streak of decent weather that helped rescue one of Florida’s biggest home insurers from collapse could come to a wet, violent end if predictions about Hurricane Irma prove true.

All eyes are on Hurricane Irma as it rampages through the Caribbean, but it’s not alone. Tropical storms Jose and Katia strengthened Wednesday afternoon, bringing the number of hurricanes churning in the Atlantic basin to three.

Hurricane Irma hammered a string of northeast Caribbean islands, thrashing them with rain and winds of up to 180 mph, and leaving at least nine people dead.

The U.S. Virgin Islands for years redirected money intended to help pay insurance claims after large disasters for other needs, raising the vulnerability of residents as Hurricane Irma ravishes the territory.

Irma’s insured damage in Florida could be the largest ever in the US, perhaps equivalent to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 which recorded $50 billion on an inflation-adjusted basis, Barclays analyst Jay Gelb said in a Sept. 5 equity research analyst note.

Flooding and wildfires are making massive headlines this summer and this extreme weather risk is placing considerable pressure on the property insurance industry.

The Chevy Malibu produced a putrid cloud of must and steam as Troy Rondeno peered beneath the steering wheel. The saturated carpet reeked of mildew and hot plastic, and white spots of mold climbed the sedan’s black leather seats as it languished in a North Houston salvage yard.

Hurricane Irma is on a crash course with Florida, according to the latest projections by the National Hurricane Center. Irma’s veering north into Florida has seemed likely for a few days, but the 8 a.m. Wednesday update by the NHC gives it more certainty, though there’s always a chance hurricanes will behave unpredictably.

Evacuation orders are being given in the Florida Keys as Monroe County emergency managers prepare for Hurricane Irma. Key West International Airport will close Wednesday night, cancelling all commercial flights until further notice.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has declared a statewide emergency in response to Hurricane Irma, a roiling storm that intensified into “an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane” while it churned toward the United States.

After Hurricane Harvey spawned epic flooding along the Gulf Coast, insured flooding victims will be able to get financial relief a little bit faster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a temporary change Monday that would "rush recovery money" into the hands of National Flood Insurance Program policyholders.

Irma on Tuesday intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest advisory.

When the flood waters left behind by Hurricane Harvey eventually recede, they will leave behind billions of dollars in property damage. However, a large majority of homeowners will likely have to spend their own money to make their homes livable again.