PHOTOS: Hurricane Sandy 1 Year Later

BY COLIN DAILEDA AND CHRISTINA ASCANI

Around this time one year ago, the Northeastern United States was preparing for one of the most devastating storms the region has ever seen. Hurricane Sandy knocked out power for 8.5 million, destroyed 305,000 houses, cost the country $71 billion and took more than 200 lives.

More Photos after the cut..

Photos of the storm were shocking. Places and landmarks that millions of people regularly walked by were suddenly engulfed in water, and when Sandy passed, whole neighborhoods had been reduced to rubble.

Below, Mashable has taken some of the most iconic photos from Hurricane Sandy and juxtaposed them with images of the same places today. Photos taken during or just after the storm are on top, and their present counterparts appear below.

Images: Andrew Burton/Getty Images News/Getty Images; Mashable, Christina Ascani

The Carey Tunnel reopened on Nov. 12, after being shut down for around twoweeks.

Manhattan seen from Dumbo, Brooklyn

Images: Aby Baker/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images; Mashable, Colin Daileda

People in 16 states and Washington, D.C., lost power.

Jane's Carousel

Images: Instagram, Ana Andjelic; Mashable, Colin Daileda

Though the carousel survived Hurricane Sandy, many of the electronics housed in its basement were ruined.

South Ferry Station

Images: Flickr, Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York; 

Mashable, Christina Ascani 

Some subway stations have still not been reopened to the public.

Garage on South William Street in Lower Manhattan

Images: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images; Mashable, Christina Ascani

The storm destroyed more than 250,000 cars.

Rockaway Peninsula, Queens

Images: John Moore/Getty Images News/Getty Images; Mashable, Christina Ascani

Waves detached over half of the 5.5 mile Rockaway Beach boardwalk from its concrete foundation.

Southeast Corner of 8th St. and Ave. C in Alphabet City

Images: Instagram, jesseandgreg; Mashable, Christina Ascani

CarFax estimates that over 100,000 of the around 250,000 water-damaged cars from Hurricane Sandy are now back on the road.

Whitehall subway station

Images: Flickr, Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York; Mashable, Christina Ascani

Subway lines, such as parts of the R train, were forced to shut down for extended periods in order to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The MTA plans to spend $4.7 billion in repairs and $4.1 billion in flood-prevention projects.

Rockaway Peninsula, Queens

Images: Spencer Platt/Getty Images News/Getty Images; Mashable, Christina Ascani

Breezy Point, a neighborhood on Rockaway Peninsula, lost 126 homes during the storm.

Image: Spencer Platt/Getty Images