STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When Hurricane Sandy hit Staten Island on Oct. 29, 2012, it left a path of devastation that changed the borough forever.

Twenty-four lives here were lost. Homes and businesses were destroyed. Streets were flooded. Trees were toppled. Both cars and boats floated away.

The stories of loss are unimaginable and heart-breaking.

As the fifth anniversary of the storm approaches, we look back at the Advance's most powerful images from before and after the storm.

These photos document the days before the storm, as supermarket shelves were emptied. They show the destruction and pain that Sandy brought to the borough. They also illustrate the way Staten Islanders came together to offer help and hope to those in need.