FLORIDA

In the annals of natural disasters, it doesn't get much worse than a major hurricane directly striking New York City and Long Island.

NOAA has released the updated and impoverished list of the most intense hurricanes to make landfall in the United States from 1851-2010. These hurricanes are categorized as Major hurricanes, which are a category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan is fine despite stumbling at an event in southern California where she was caught by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan is fine despite stumbling at an event in southern California where she was caught by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Even if Irene reaches New York as a weakened Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane, it could still wreak havoc because the city is simply not prepared to handle such storms the way Florida or the Gulf Coast are. In a worst-case scenario, here are the top five threats New York City would face from a major hurricane.

The independent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority warned investors Wednesday about investment scams that promote gold stocks whose real value is difficult to calculate.

Hurricane Irene's projected path is expected impact almost the entire East Coast.

Gold fell Wednesday in electronic trading as investors took profits, economists heralded a positive indicator and Wall Street held its collective breath that the chairman of the U.S. central bank would signal support in a key speech later this week.

Hurricane Irene reached 120 mph as it intensified, ravaging Acklins and Crooked Islands in the southeastern Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center said that Irene is a large and dangerous storm and that it is expected to gain momentum in the next day.

Tourists and residents of the small North Carolina island calmly flocked to ferries Wednesday. Hurricane Irene strengthened to a Category 3 storm while people on Ocracoke filled their cars with gas and gathered supplies.

Virtually the entire U.S. East Coast is on alert late Wednesday for a possible impact from Hurricane Irene, threatening to blaze a trail from eastern North Carolina northward to New England by Monday. By the time the storm departs the East Coast late Monday, it will likely have lashed with significant impacts from the Bahamas, where it is currently located, to eastern North Carolina, and up through the northeast U.S. -- possibly making a direct hit on Long Island, New York late Sunday.

As Hurricane Irene approaches the U.S., we take a look back at some at some of the most epic storms that have made landfall in the last century.

There's still a bit of summer left in 2011, so why not make the most of it and check out these end of summer travel deals for last minute vacationers (or anybody who wants one last getaway)

Hurricane Irene continues to strengthen and make cut a path toward the eastern United States, with good odds of striking the New York area, and possibly making a direct hit on Long Island late Sunday. Irene is the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season and threatening to be the first to strike the U.S. since Ike in 2008.

It is rare for a hurricane to strike New York City directly; more often, they hit eastern Long Island and Cape Cod. Since 1851, only five hurricanes have struck within 75 miles of the city, although the edges of others have caused damage. Here are six of the worst to affect the region.

Powerful Hurricane Irene could pose a big threat to the densely populated northeast United States, including New York, as it swings up the eastern seaboard from Saturday on its current forecast track, the top U.S. government hurricane forecaster said on Wednesday.

Gold and silver prices plunged Wednesday as a strengthening stock market and hope that the U.S. central bank will take steps to boost the American economy dimmed the appeal of precious metals as a safe haven.

Federal officials have warned Irene could cause flooding, power outages or worse all along the East Coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore.

As Hurricane Irene's path sends it barreling up the East Coast towards New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine, here's a look at the worst hurricanes on record to have hit New England.

Hurricane Irene has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm and could even grow stronger as it approaches the Carolinas and Northeast this week.

Gold prices dropped sharply Wednesday after a strong U.S. durable goods report, profit-taking by investors and encouraging news from the Congressional Budget Office about the deficit.