In the Eye of the Storm: Capturing Sandy’s Wrath

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As Sandy drew near, TIME asked five photographers — Michael Christopher Brown, Benjamin Lowy, Ed Kashi, Andrew Quilty and Stephen Wilkes — to document the hurricane and its aftermath via Instagram.

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Working from different locations across the Atlantic seaboard, they captured ordinary people getting ready to greet the superstorm. And when Sandy made landfall the night of Oct. 29, they braved rising floodwaters, high winds and driving sheets of rain to photograph the storm’s impact on several communities.

Keep following @TIME on Instagram for the latest photos filed by our photographers, and check back on LightBox for more of our storm coverage throughout the week.

For the latest news on superstorm Sandy, follow TIME’s live coverage.

New Yorkers charge their mobile phones with generators provided by Percy's Tavern, located on Avenue A and 13th Street in Manhattan
New Yorkers charge their mobile phones with generators provided by Percy's Tavern, located on Avenue A and 13th Street in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
A worker at Old Homestead Steakhouse in Manhattan hands a policeman a steak. Without electricity, the steakhouse is clearing out their freezers
A worker at Old Homestead Steakhouse in Manhattan hands a policeman a steak. Without electricity, the steakhouse is clearing out their freezersMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
Con Edison workers clean a manhole on 7th Avenue and 22nd Street in Manhattan
Con Edison workers clean a manhole on 7th Avenue and 22nd Street in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
New Yorkers wait to board a crowded city bus on 1st Avenue and 14th Street in Manhattan
New Yorkers wait to board a crowded city bus on 1st Avenue and 14th Street in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
National Guard of the 169th Infantry, Alpha Company, prepare to lend assistance to citizens near 25th street in Manhattan.
National Guard of the 169th Infantry, Alpha Company, prepare to lend assistance to citizens near 25th street in Manhattan.Michael Christopher Brown for TIME
A man pushes a man in a wheelchair across 1st avenue in Manhattan
A man pushes a man in a wheelchair across 1st avenue in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
The following photographs were taken Oct. 30, 2012A firefighter from Engine 1 ascends a tower ladder to cut a dangling piece of facade from a building on Broadway, near Franklin Street, in Manhattan
The following photographs were taken Oct. 30, 2012 A firefighter from Engine 1 ascends a tower ladder to cut a dangling piece of facade from a building on Broadway, near Franklin Street, in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
The John B. Caddell, a tanker ship, ran aground on Staten Island during the Sandy storm surge
The John B. Caddell, a tanker ship, ran aground on Staten Island during the Sandy storm surgeBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
Time Sandy iPhone
The destruction in Breezy Point following the fire and storm surgeBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
Time Sandy iPhone
Surveying the destruction in Breezy PointBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
Time Sandy iPhone
Michael, a hearing impaired man, fled his sisters home and spent the night in a Breezy Point churchBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
A partially submerged car dealership in Monmouth County, N.J.
A partially submerged car dealership in Monmouth County, N.J.Ed Kashi—VII for TIME
Route 35 in Mantoloking, N.J.
Route 35 in Mantoloking, N.J.Andrew Quilty—Oculi for TIME
A house was washed at least 500 yards from the nearest neighbor's into a lagoon behind Mantoloking, N.J.
A house was washed at least 500 yards from the nearest neighbor's into a lagoon behind Mantoloking, N.J.Andrew Quilty—Oculi for TIME
Beachfront properties at Belmar, New Jersey
Beachfront properties at Belmar, New JerseyAndrew Quilty—Oculi for TIME
The three street wide peninsula of Mantoloking, N.J.
The three street wide peninsula of Mantoloking, N.J.Andrew Quilty—Oculi for TIME
Surveying the damage to the the car dealership that he and his wife built over the past three years in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Surveying the damage to the the car dealership that he and his wife built over the past three years in Asbury Park, New JerseyAndrew Quilty—Oculi for TIME
Point Pleasant, N.J.
Point Pleasant, N.J.Andrew Quilty—Oculi for TIME
Part of the famous Atlantic City boardwalk was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy
Part of the famous Atlantic City boardwalk was destroyed by Hurricane SandyEd Kashi—VII for TIME
A portion of Atlantic City's boardwalk was washed away last night
A portion of Atlantic City's boardwalk was washed away last nightEd Kashi—VII for TIME
Residents gather historical photos strewn around town. Like dozens of beach communities along the Jersey Shore, Keyport was devastated by Hurricane Sandy
Residents gather historical photos strewn around town. Like dozens of beach communities along the Jersey Shore, Keyport was devastated by Hurricane SandyEd Kashi—VII for TIME
A woman observes the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park
A woman observes the Statue of Liberty from Battery ParkMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
Destruction in Keyport, N.J.
Destruction in Keyport, N.J.Ed Kashi—VII for TIME
A woman uses an iPad to photograph exposed bedrooms inside a building with a collapsed facade on 8th Avenue in Manhattan
A woman uses an iPad to photograph exposed bedrooms inside a building with a collapsed facade on 8th Avenue in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
High tide at Compo Beach in Westport, Conn.
High tide at Compo Beach in Westport, Conn.Stephen Wilkes for TIME
A woman uses her cell phone while being evacuated from the New York University Medical Center. Ambulances with license plates from around the country were lined up to receive patients
A woman uses her cell phone while being evacuated from the New York University Medical Center. Ambulances with license plates from around the country were lined up to receive patientsMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
A couple walk around a fallen tree on 6th Avenue, near 18th street, in Manhattan
A couple walk around a fallen tree on 6th Avenue, near 18th street, in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
A truck submerged in water at the entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel in Lower Manhattan
A truck submerged in water at the entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel in Lower ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
David Young's destroyed 100-year-old barn in Wilton, Conn.
David Young's destroyed 100-year-old barn in Wilton, Conn.Stephen Wilkes for TIME
Uprooted trees in Montclair, N.J, the morning after Sandy made landfall
Uprooted trees in Montclair, N.J, the morning after Sandy made landfallEd Kashi—VII for TIME
The following photographs were taken on Oct. 29, 2012The area under the Brooklyn Bridge during high tide
The following photographs were taken on Oct. 29, 2012 The area under the Brooklyn Bridge during high tideBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
A car is submerged in floodwater on Avenue C, near 14th Street, in Manhattan
A car is submerged in floodwater on Avenue C, near 14th Street, in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
Firemen search for people trapped in their cars at 14th Street and Avenue C in Manhattan
Firemen search for people trapped in their cars at 14th Street and Avenue C in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
A minivan is consumed by both flames and storm surge in a low lying area of Brooklyn
A minivan is consumed by both flames and storm surge in a low lying area of BrooklynBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
Water pours into a parking garage on Avenue C in Manhattan
Water pours into a parking garage on Avenue C in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
The water level slowly climbs on many streets in lower Manhattan
The water level slowly climbs on many streets in lower ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
With much of lower and midtown Manhattan in the dark, the Empire State Building lights up the sky
With much of lower and midtown Manhattan in the dark, the Empire State Building lights up the skyMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
A passenger seeks refuge from the storm in the Staten Island Ferry terminal in Manhattan
A passenger seeks refuge from the storm in the Staten Island Ferry terminal in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
Doors are barricaded with sandbags in New York City
Doors are barricaded with sandbags in New York CityMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
Downtown Newark, N.J., during the early afternoon, as Hurricane Sandy moves closer
Downtown Newark, N.J., during the early afternoon, as Hurricane Sandy moves closerEd Kashi—VII for TIME
Waves begin crashing over Chelsea Piers in Manhattan
Waves begin crashing over Chelsea Piers in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
Storm surges flood the streets during low tide in Milford, Conn.
Storm surges flood the streets during low tide in Milford, Conn.Stephen Wilkes for TIME
Sandbags line the waterfront of downtown Jersey City, N.J., with the unfinished World Trade Center towering over lower Manhattan across the roiling Hudson River
Sandbags line the waterfront of downtown Jersey City, N.J., with the unfinished World Trade Center towering over lower Manhattan across the roiling Hudson RiverEd Kashi—VII for TIME
Sandbags line the waterfront of downtown Jersey City, N.J., with the unfinished World Trade Center towering over lower Manhattan across the roiling Hudson River
Sandbags line the waterfront of downtown Jersey City, N.J., with the unfinished World Trade Center towering over lower Manhattan across the roiling Hudson RiverMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
The fire department on South Street, in Manhattan, prepares to meet the rising water
The fire department on South Street, in Manhattan, prepares to meet the rising waterMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
New York City firefighters look up at a crane dangling from a building on 57th Street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, in Manhattan
New York City firefighters look up at a crane dangling from a building on 57th Street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, in ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
A statue braves the winds of Hurricane Sandy on the waterfront of Jersey City, N.J., with the unfinished World Trade Center looming over lower Manhattan
A statue braves the winds of Hurricane Sandy on the waterfront of Jersey City, N.J., with the unfinished World Trade Center looming over lower ManhattanEd Kashi—VII for TIME
A man stands in the heavy surf near Coney Island as Sandy moves towards land
A man stands in the heavy surf near Coney Island as Sandy moves towards landBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
An early Halloween reveler walks along the Jersey City harbor, in New Jersey, as the Hudson River churns
An early Halloween reveler walks along the Jersey City harbor, in New Jersey, as the Hudson River churnsEd Kashi—VII for TIME
Traffic was thin on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway, which was later shut down because of the storm
Traffic was thin on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway, which was later shut down because of the stormEd Kashi—VII for TIME
A subway stop is barricaded from the rising water, near the southern tip of Manhattan
A subway stop is barricaded from the rising water, near the southern tip of ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
An intrepid skateboarder in Montclair, N.J., before Hurricane Sandy reaches shore
An intrepid skateboarder in Montclair, N.J., before Hurricane Sandy reaches shoreEd Kashi—VII for TIME
A boarded-up storefront taunts Hurricane Sandy, in Bridgeport, Conn.
A boarded-up storefront taunts Hurricane Sandy, in Bridgeport, Conn.Stephen Wilkes for TIME
Sandbags line the entrance to an office building on Broadway in downtown Manhattan
Sandbags line the entrance to an office building on Broadway in downtown ManhattanMichael Christopher Brown for TIME
College students brave strong winds and rain on the coast of Milford, Conn.
College students brave strong winds and rain on the coast of Milford, Conn.Stephen Wilkes for TIME
Storm clouds bear down on the Statue of Liberty as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City
Storm clouds bear down on the Statue of Liberty as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York CityBenjamin Lowy—Reportage by Getty Images for TIME

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