The storm surge created by the hurricane force winds killed at least 3,000 people. Palm beach post hurricane reporter and florida native eliot kleinberg has penned the. The storm made landfall in south florida on september 17 in palm beach county. The 1928 hurricane might have accounted for the most. When the hurricane roared ashore at palm beach september 16, 1928, many coastal residents were prepared. The story of the second deadliest hurricane in american history and the deadliest hurricane in bahamian history. At least 2,500 people died when the 1928 okeechobee hurricane swept over puerto rico and the southern united states. The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 devastated the caribbean and south florida, and killed thousands.
Lake okeechobee hurricane of the 1928 essay example. The storm was very powerful since it traveled at a speed of 155mph. The deadly hurricane of 1928 claimed 2,500 lives, and the longforgotten story of the casualties, as told in black cloud, continues to stir passion. Strong winds struck southern florida as the hurricane moved ashore, with three unofficial reports of 100 mph 161 kmh. The great okeechobee hurricane was one of the greatest and.
The savage gusts that churned the waters of lake okeechobee into a maelstrom of death afflicted victims of all races and classes, and produced. Florida and the great okeechobee hurricane disaster of 1928, vols i and ii, dissertation submitted to the department of history in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral degree, college of arts and sciences. The okeechobee hurricane of 1928, also known as the san felipe segundo hurricane, was one of the deadliest hurricanes in the recorded history of the north atlantic basin, and the second deadliest hurricane in the united states, only behind the 1900 galveston hurricane. Steven ward, research geophysicist institute of geophysics and planetary physics, university of california, santa cruz.
Also known as the saint felipe phillip segundo hurricane, it developed in the far eastern atlantic before making its way over land and taking the lives of bahamian migrant. On the evening of september 16, 1928, after terrorizing the caribbean islands, a powerful hurricane that measured as a category 4 hurricane on the saffirsimpson scale, made landfall in palm beach. The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 on apple books. Sorry to say, this is, without a doubt, the worst book i have ever read. Recent books recount horror of 1928 lake okeechobee. The hurricane killed an estimated 2,500 people in the u. Though history books tell of the stench of rotting flesh and of lime poured over. The greatest and deadliest hurricanes to impact the. When the hurricane roared ashore at palm beach september 16, 1928, many.
The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 neely wayne. The catastrophe that is katrina is all too familiar to the people along floridas lake okeechobee. The story of the second deadliest hurricane in american. In september 1928, when great storms were still unnamed, nearly 700 black men, women, and children were buried in an unmarked west palm beach ditch following the nations seconddeadliest hurricane. Also known as the saint felipe phillip segundo hurricane, it developed in the far eastern atlantic before making its way over. Home history featured storms storms in the 1920s 1928 okeechobee hurricane 1928 okeechobee hurricane this classic cape verdetype hurricane was first detected over the tropical atlantic on september 10, 1928 some 1450 km 900 mi east of the caribbean island of guadeloupe. Also known as the saint felipe phillip segundo hurricane, it developed in the far eastern atlantic before making its way over land and taking the lives of bahamian. Florida 1928 estimated death toll 1,836 changed to at least 2,500 in 2003. Great okeechobee hurricane national weather service. Herb donald, a survivor of the september 1928 okeechobee hurricane, described seeing a mother holding a baby, sitting on top of a. This book delved into why this happened and the players involved. Black then floridas okeechobee hurricane of 1928 and. The story of the second deadliest hurricane in american history and the deadliest hurricane in bahamian history by wayne neely 2014, paperback at the best online prices at. In the summer of 1928, heavy rainfall raised lake okeechobees water level three feet above normal.
Or, floodwaters be floodin when i was assigned the deadly natural disaster of the okeechobee hurricane for a podcast assignment for parcast, i knew the only way to really understand what happened on september 16th, 1928 was to read about it. The storm made landfall in south florida on september 17 in palm beach. The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 ebook walmart. The internal pressure of the storm was 929 millibars. S, most of the fatalities occurred in the state of florida, particularly in lake okeechobee. The courage of the florida people after the hurricane is inspiring. Though the lake okeechobee hurricane was a historical problem in the florida area, a much greater problem was portrayed by the event. But the survivors of the great okeechobee hurricane of sept. Black cloud is the compelling story of the deadly hurricane of 1928 in florida. The okeechobee hurricane of 1928 resulted in the deaths of at least a combined 2,500 people in guadaloupe, puerto rico and the florida everglades. The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 the story of the second deadliest hurricane in american history and the deadliest hurricane in bahamian history.
They know that whole towns can be washed away in a matter of hours, wiping out generations of families with no. The story of the second deadliest hurricane in american history and the deadliest hurricane in bahamian history paperback december 9, 2014. This devastating natural disaster that struck florida brought out one major problem. The savage gusts that churned the waters of lake okeechobee into a maelstrom of death afflicted victims of all races and classes, and produced tales of survival and loss among whites and blacks alike. He had gone to belle glade to work and earn money for his family. Click on the screen to watch a computer simulation of the 1928 hurricane as it passed over lake okeechobee. But inland, along lake okeechobee, few conceived the disaster that was brewing. The author, eliot kleinberg, moves seamlessly between a richly detailed factual account, a social overview of the time and place, and the personal stories of individuals who were affected by the second deadliest hurricane in u. In guadeloupe, about 1,200 people were killed, and in puerto rico where the storm hit directly at peak strength, three hundred died and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. The central historical event of their eyes were watching god is the great okeechobee hurricane of 1928. An eyewitness to the 1928 lake okeechobee hurricane in florida looks back on his childhood experience over 80 yeas ago. It was the fourth tropical cyclone, third hurricane, and only major hurricane of. The florida flood that accounted for the most deaths of.
Okeechobee hurricane of 1928 in the middle of september 1928, a destructive hurricane hit puerto rico and florida, killing thousands and leaving even more homeless. This book is very informative about a little known aspect of floridas hurricane. On september 16, 1928, a devastating hurricane struck florida. The hurricane had already wreaked havoc across the caribbean, most notably on the leeward islands, puerto rico, and the bahamas. A great number of houses and buildings were swept away in the storm. The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 by wayne neely. If you live in the caribbean or florida, youve probably heard tales about the great okeechobee hurricane, which killed thousands and left behind wide swaths of destruction. Recent books recount horror of 1928 lake okeechobee hurricane. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. That fall, a hurricane smashed the coast of florida, and the impact flooded lake okeechobee. The okeechobee hurricane struck the leeward islands, puerto rico, and the bahamas, before reaching florida on september 16, 1928.
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