Floodwaters entered the building, forcing the occupants into the rafters. [70] At the Palm Beach Times, the building was partly demolished, causing the company's machines to be damaged by rain. [76] A few of the local Black churches suffered significant damage. [27] The structures not suffering any damage floated away. The Galveston storm destroyed 3,600 buildings and … [154] Despite Prohibition laws at the time, those searching and collecting bodies were given rations of bootleg whisky, which was provided by a local rum-runner. At least 2,500 people died when the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane swept over Puerto Rico and the southern United States. We note that the five tropical cyclones at the top of Appendix 1 (1780 Great Hurricane, 1900 in Galveston, 1974 Fifi, 1930 in Dominican Republic, 1963 Flora) account for about one-third of all the deaths over the past 500 years in storms for which quantitative data on deaths has been found. The storm killed at least 1,100 people. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/deadliest-hurricanes-worst-in-the-us-list/29 However, brick and concrete-structured dwellings received little damage. It was the second-deadliest hurricane in United States history. [32] The hurricane caused two fatalities in the city. [135] Railroad companies provided free fare to storm victims until October 4, a service used by 1,427 people. However, the area north of Briny Breezes to just south of the Lake Worth Casino, was "completely washed away". Forty miles west of the coast, rain filled … [27] Under the bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway, two barges were driven under the structure, causing it to move upward by almost 2 ft (0.61 m). [27] The bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway was mostly intact; this was the only passable bridge between Delray Beach and West Palm Beach. [106] Only six people in the town survived. The Okeechobee hurricane, also known as San Felipe Segundo hurricane, was the second deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of the United States, behind only the 1900 Galveston hurricane.The fourth tropical cyclone, third hurricane, and only major hurricane of the 1928 season, this system developed just offshore the west coast of Africa on September 6. After the conclusion of the tour, Martin telegraphed every mayor in Florida to aid the victims of the storm and apologized for not issuing that appeal sooner. Dept. [27] There was severe damage totaling just under $13.8 million and eleven deaths,[27][69] with one from being fatally struck by debris. In the latter, Police Chief Frank H. Matthews ordered a sunset-to-sunrise curfew, unless a person had a pass or permit signed by Matthews or his assistant, or if "an extreme emergency demands it". The Kester Building, a drug store, and a grocery store also suffered impact. The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. [20] At the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, the mortar was reportedly "squeezed ... like toothpaste" between the bricks during the storm, swaying the tower 17 in (430 mm) off the base. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Our funeral home remains committed to safeguarding the health of the families we serve. [11] However, it is estimated that there were at least 2,500 deaths, primarily in the areas surrounding Lake Okeechobee. The hurricane originated from a tropical depression that formed near Dakar, Senegal, on September 6. After collecting about $100,000, farmers were eligible for $300 loans with at a 5% interest rate. The Red Cross reported 1,836 deaths, a figure which the National Weather Service initially accepted, but in 2003, the number was revised to "at least 2,500". Further intensification was slow and halted by late on September 7. The roof suffered complete destruction. [131] Then-gubernatorial candidate Doyle E. Carlton contributed $10,000 on September 20 after surveying the damage. [65] The fire station also collapsed, though the fire bell remained intact. September 28, 1928: Okeechobee Hurricane (Death toll: 2,500 minimum) Back in 1928, hurricane early warning systems weren’t even a pipe dream, which might explain what happened in Palm Beach County, Florida one fateful September day that year. [63] Because the hospital was partially destroyed, a temporary hospital was set up in the Pennsylvania Hotel. The Great Labor Day hurricane killed 208 people when it battered Florida in September 1935. Harvesting the remaining crops was delayed until mid-October due to inundated groves. A group of men with trucks were dispatched northward from Miami to clear trees and other debris from the roads. A pavilion near the ocean was swept away. At Bacon Park, the area west of Parker Avenue was desolate. [33], As the rear eyewall passed over the area, the flood reversed itself, breaking the dikes along the northern coast of the lake and causing a similar but smaller flooding. [149] A rumor circulated, which even garnered sympathy from Governor Martin, that a black man named Levi Brown was eating ham in a mess tent and was struck in the head and shoulder with an ax by a Red Cross worker, told him "ham was not for niggers." The worst hit region, however, was Lake Okeechobee… [121] In Bartow, business building windows were shattered and signs were knocked down, while several roofs and chimneys also suffered damage. [33] Throughout the 1920s, Okeelanta suffered several floods and muck fires. [33] Newspapers such as The Palm Beach Times initially reported about 450 deaths at Pelican Bay, located between Belle Glade and Pahokee. Winds at Canal Point, adjacent to the lake, were estimated as high as 160 mph (255 km/h); the anemometer blew away after reporting sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). [46] Approximately 50 businesses were wrecked and 200 others received damage – roughly 75% of buildings in the business district. In the summer of 1928, heavy rainfall raised Lake Okeechobee’s water level three feet above normal. [50] Additionally, the Old Lake Worth City Hall was partially destroyed. Here, people struggle to fight its winds in New York City. The Okeechobee Hurricane struck the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas, before reaching Florida on September 16, 1928. [69] However, The Palm Beach Post was able to publish a newspaper. Senator Duncan U. Fletcher, among other members of the state's congressional delegation. Damage totaled around $10 million. The second deadliest storm was the Hurricane of Lake Okeechobee in 1928, with approximately 2,500 causalities. Over 300 deaths occurred in Puerto Rico, before it … [58] Along the coast, there were only minor washouts between Delray Beach and Briny Breezes, where a few homes suffered slight damage. [133], At the south shore Lake Okeechobee communities, Dr. Buck took charge. The island itself was so badly battered that it was reduced to several sandbars. However, in 2003 the United States death count was revised as "at least" 2,500, making the Okeechobee hurricane the second-deadliest natural disaster in United States history behind the Galveston Hurricane of 1900; a mass grave at the Port Mayaca Cemetery east of Port Mayaca contains the bodies of 1,600 victims of the hurricane. [142], In Palm Beach, about fifty men shoveled sand off Ocean Boulevard and cut down damaged palm trees with crosscut saws. Thereafter, it moved further inland across the Southeastern United States and became extratropical over North Carolina on September 20, before the remnants lost their identity over Ontario on September 21. Okeechobee has 14th COVID-19 related death. [4] The southwest side of dike was breached during the 1926 Miami hurricane, devastating Clewiston and Moore Haven and drowning as many as 300 people. Once, Lake Okeechobee was a mysterious inland body seen by few. The town rebuilt after the storm only to be hit by another major hurricane in 1886, which wiped out all but two of the town's buildings. of Education extends student loan payment freeze, Who leads federal agencies until Senate confirms Biden's nominees, Climate activists expect a lot from Biden and aren't afraid to say so, Joe Biden's "Day One" actions and his promises for his first 100 days, officially raised the death toll to 2,975, California Privacy/Information We Collect. Additionally, the hurricane demolished 268 businesses and impacted 490 others. [118] One fatality was reported in Stuart. Biden administration says no. [64] However, the hotel itself was damaged; the chimney crashed through 14 floors, causing about $60,000 in damage. Senator Park Trammell of Florida also testified. The suffering throughout was beyond words. "[128] The Red Cross, in collaboration with the Extension Division of the United States Department of Agriculture, provided seeds, fertilizer, feed, and gasoline and oil for farmers suffering severe losses. [67] Approximately 1,500 houses and 500 businesses were damaged in Palm Beach. At least 700 people were killed in the storm. Here, high tide caused by Diane send a high spray into the air as it pounds the jetties at the mouth of St. Johns River in Florida. [168] The only gap is at Fisheating Creek – the mouth located in Glades County near Lakeport – where the dike turns inland and parallels the stream on both sides for several miles, leaving Fisheating Creek as the only remaining free-flowing tributary of Lake Okeechobee. St. Patrick's Catholic Church received about $40,000 in damage. Nearby, the Loxahatchee River reached 8 ft (2.4 m) at the railroad trestle. What was the San Felipe’s Hurricane death toll: Officially 1,836 people died around Lake Okeechobee, but a separate mass burial of black farm workers numbered hundreds more. Windows and roofs were damaged in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, but damage was minor overall. 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane Another great hurricane hits the island, this time taking aim on Plymouth and the south of the island. [62] Only one business on Clematis Street – the main business thoroughfares of West Palm Beach – escaped serious damage. The lowest pressure north of Lake Okeechobee was 966 mbar (28.54 inHg) in Bartow, and along the west coast, winds reached 31 mph (50 km/h) in Tampa. At least 8,000 people were killed, and some estimates range as high as 12,000, making it the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. After the generator failed to work, they hand-cranked the light's mantle. This photo shows what remains of a house in Biloxi, Mississippi. hundreds of known deaths in florida; damage $30,000,000. [37] At the Japanese community known as Yamato, several frame homes were demolished, while a store was severely damaged. The L. Van Son House, proclaimed as "one of the most unusual landmarks", was demolished. [34] At the city library, then located at City Park (now known as Flagler Park), more than half of the books were destroyed and the floor was covered with about 2 ft (0.61 m) of water and mud. It made landfall in Texas as what would now be considered a Category 4 storm. This hurricane obliterated the island of Chenière Caminada, Louisiana, in October 1893. The pressure at Canal Point dropped to 942 mbar (27.82 inHg). What was the San Felipe’s Hurricane death toll: Officially 1,836 people died around Lake Okeechobee, but a separate mass burial of black farm workers numbered hundreds more. Programs established by the New Deal and efforts by Florida governors in mid and late 1930s, particularly David Sholtz, brought relief to the economic slump,[161] but the region remained in an abysmal financial state until the onslaught of American involvement in World War II. The effects of the hurricane on black migrant workers is dramatized in Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast in August 2005. [116] The storm left one death in Orange City. Some fruit blown from trees in Polk county, but crop [damage] was exceptionally heavy. [96] At the height of the storm, dwellings on the ridge began washing away, with nothing remaining on the west side of the ridge. [17] Early on September 18, a train leaving Miami carried 20 doctors and 20 nurses to West Palm Beach. A boat at the boathouse near the Florida East Coast Railroad bridge was swept out of the building. [101], In South Bay, nearly all houses were destroyed and several buildings were unroofed. Potential investors and buyers were skeptical about purchasing land in the area. A garage, two labor cabins, and a five-room bungalow were demolished, as was a portion of the greenhouse. The Okeechobee Hurricane (1928) A brutal storm first hit Puerto Rico then Palm Springs, Fla., in September 1928. Nationally, the death rate from these drugs has increased by 1,125% between 2011 and 2017, according to mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The gymnasium and auditorium collapsed. Total dead on the roadside and not buried and counted but not in plank coffins was one hundred and twenty-six. [17] By October 28, 10,172 families registered and applied for aid with the Red Cross, about two-thirds of whom resided in Palm Beach County. [33] The roadway along the coast to the north of Fort Lauderdale was covered with sand. In the summer of 1928, heavy rainfall raised Lake Okeechobee’s water level three feet above normal. [7] However, the hurricane instead moved northwestward after striking Puerto Rico. They were then exposed to the wind and rain after the roof blew off. [157], During the next several decades, the mass African American burial site in West Palm Beach was largely forgotten by the public. The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, but occasionally storms form outside those months. Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico as a Category 4 on September 20, 2017, causing widespread damage and power outages that lasted for months. Reports of storm damage greatly exaggerated. Pardell Rembert, 28, of Okeechobee… By Katrina Elsken. [166], In January 1929, Fred C. Elliott explained during a Congressional hearing that because no state funds were available and state law did not allow for the construction of a dike, Congress was petitioned for funding and authorization. The practice of giving major storms a name did not become regular until 1953. The federal and state government would spend approximately $7 million (1929 USD) in eradication efforts. It is the deadliest hurricane to strike the United States since the Palm Beach-Lake Okeechobee hurricane of September 1928. At the time, Agnes was the costliest hurricane to date. "[48] Skylights at the county courthouse shattered, flooding the Criminal Court of Record rooms. On September 20, the West Palm Beach City Commission held a special session that allowed the City Treasurer to authorize an in advance requisition payment of $50,000 to the Red Cross. [59], In the African American section of the city, where most dwellings were built of discarded material, many homes were damaged. Recent Post by Page. Others that survived were swept far away from where the building once stood. Early on the following day, the system weakened to a tropical storm and became extratropical over North Carolina hours later. [109], Floodwaters persisted for several weeks, greatly impeding attempts to clean up the devastation. Exaggerated reports unfair and will do Florida great harm and we will appreciate getting in touch with press and in any other way correcting the same. The Last Island hurricane killed 400 people when it swept over the Louisiana coast in August 1856. [139] Dr. Buck also ordered some men to break into the ice house, which would be a source of freshwater.[138]. [25], On Kreamer Island, many residents received information about the storm when it was too late to evacuate. Highway 90, between New Orleans and Gulfport, Mississippi, shown here, was blocked by debris. [16] About 500 people in Lake Worth were sheltered inside the Gulf Stream Hotel during the storm. The storm turned and crossed the Bahamas before smashing ashore at West Palm Beach, Florida on September 16-17, 1928. [39] In South Palm Beach, the Mirimar Inn was nearly destroyed. Issaquena County, Mississippi, among the most ravaged by a Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, also contributed money. [63], Banyan Boulevard (then known as First Street), considered the auto row of West Palm Beach, was reduced to "a mass of debris. The system reached Category 4 intensity before striking Guadeloupe on September 12. The Red Cross estimated the number of fatalities at 1,836, which was taken as the official count by the National Weather Service for many years (and exactly equal to the official count for Hurricane Katrina). [4] Most survivors and bodies were washed out into the Everglades where many of the bodies were never found. At Florida Southern College (FSC), the north side of the gymnasium collapsed while other buildings on campus were damaged to a less degree. Red Cross expenditures included about $121,200 for agricultural supplies and equipment, $39,800 for boarding and lodging of storm victims, $157,300 for building and repairs, $137,000 for clothing, $66,800 for grants to local chapters, $115,500 for family aid and service registration, $115,000 for field expensive, $40,000 for food, $83,200 for general tool and equipment expenses, $346,300 for household goods, $5,000 for the junior red cross, $71,800 for medical services, $60,300 for relief camps, $45,900 for rescue work, $11,000 for the transportation of storm victims, and $19,900 for other miscellaneous expenses. However, it was later repaired and has been listed as a U.S. National Register of Historic Places since 1981. The Tampa Tribune owner Peter O. Knight described the situation as "trivial". In West Palm Beach, one of the most severely affected coastal cities, a total of 1,711 houses were destroyed and 6,369 others suffered damage, which left about 2,100 families homeless. Older sources usually list 3,411 as the hurricane's total count of fatalities, including the Caribbean. Across the street from the Cloister Inn, 32 freight cars belonging to a train along the Florida East Coast Railway were tossed by the wind into a nearby ditch. [27], Offshore Palm Beach, two 75 ft (23 m) Coast Guard cutters from Fernandina Beach, 188 and 230, encountered rough seas generated by the hurricane. [1], After World War I, South Florida experienced a land boom. Fast Facts: Death Toll: 1836 Date: September, 1928 States Affected: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey For More details, pictures, and reports on this disaster please use the following external web source: It made landfall in Florida, but brought destruction up the entire East Coast. Six other fatalities occurred west of Jupiter after a school where people sought shelter collapsed. The storm was, at the time, the most intense hurricane ever to make landfall in the U.S. Hurricane Audrey left 416 people dead in Louisiana and Texas in June 1957. [34] A total of 277 homes were demolished, while 750 other dwellings were impaired, leaving about 350 families homeless. Newspaper headlines greatly underestimated the death and destruction from the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. Day and night, militia members and personnel of 124th Infantry Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard patrols the streets of West Palm Beach. Agricultural productivity rapidly took hold in the area due to the rich, black muck soil. 1899 San Ciriaco Hurricane - 3,389 Deaths. A ceremony held in Clewiston on January 12, 1961, included a speech from former President Herbert Hoover. A New York Times article from 1925 noted that the development in Florida "yields no parallel". [120] One death was reported in Bartow. The only major hurricane of its season, it struck Guadeloupe (pictured) as a Category 4 storm on September 12, causing 1,200 deaths. [32] The recently constructed Pompano Theater in Pompano Beach was severely damaged. Two years later in 1928, the Okeechobee Hurricane crossed over the lake, killing thousands. A number of three-story business buildings collapsed during the storm. Despite this, only one person drowned on the island. [104] In Fort Pierce, most of the impact was confined to the waterfront areas. [18] At the building then being used as the Palm Beach County Courthouse, approximately 500 people sought shelter inside. About 100 businesses were demolished and 50 others suffered losses. The town was built in 1925 and destroyed three years later by a hurricane which killed thousands of people. Unstoppable, it crossed over the coast, through West Palm Beach with winds racing up to 145 miles per hour. Ten people drowned, but thirteen others survived by clinging to a barge or tree tops, while one woman tied herself to a telegraph pole. Damage in Florida after of the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, which caused more than 4,000 deaths. Many homes suffered "untold damage", while a shopping center on Lake Avenue experienced near complete destruction. Betsy left 75 people dead in September 1965. Total damages from the storm amounted to $100 million (1928 USD) across the Caribbean and the US. The greatest devastation occurred in New Orleans and other Louisiana communities, but Mississippi, Alabama and Florida were also impacted. Mariano Gutiérrez-Lanza of the Jesuit observatory in Belen, Cuba, agreed and noted that Cuba and Florida should not be concerned by the hurricane. [26] Then-Governor of Florida John W. Martin estimated that 15,000 families were left homeless in Palm Beach County alone. Hurricane Agnes killed 122 people across eight states in the eastern part of the country in June 1972. One death occurred in the former,[100] caused by a man who experienced "heart trouble" following the destruction of his home. The town was later abandoned. This Hurricane was first detected over the Atlantic Ocean on August 27. [102] At least 160 fatalities occurred in the city,[27] while the American Red Cross indicated 247 deaths. [103] Bean City was nearly completely destroyed during the hurricane; only one home remained standing and at least a dozen people perished. The town's post office, depot, and an entire business block were also destroyed. In 1991, the property was owned by a private individual when the Sankofa Society conducted a blessing ceremony at the site, well-publicized by the local media. They remember the great storm of 1928. [133] In Miami, WQAM hosted a telethon on September 22, which also included live entertainment from a Shriners band at a park amphitheater. [6] After President Herbert Hoover's visit to the area in February 1929, the Corps drafted a new plan which provided for the construction of floodway channels, control gates, and major levees along Lake Okeechobee's shores. Jump to. [164], To prevent a recurrence of disasters such as the Okeechobee hurricane and the 1926 Miami hurricane, the Florida Legislature created the Okeechobee Flood Control District during its 1929 session, following a recommendation by U.S. [35] A total of 32 homes were damaged, while 4 businesses were demolished and 25 others were severely damaged. [19] In Jupiter, 20 people sought refuge in a grocery store, while 25 others stayed at a newly constructed elementary school. As a result, property values plummeted. Only one home was left in its wake. "[9], Although the local newspapers such as The Palm Beach Post began acknowledging on September 15 that the hurricane may strike Florida,[9] Gray remained entirely confident that the storm would not make landfall and instead predicted that winds would reach only 35 mph (56 km/h). Hurricane Floyd killed 56 people in September 1999. 200 already buried in okeechobee area; reports dribble in from other sectors. [114] Overall, 27 deaths occurred in Okeechobee County. In December 2000, the city of West Palm Beach purchased the land back for $180,000. The NOAA Hurricane Hunters. Nearby, the Rainbow Pier only received structural damage to its railings, though the pier office was blown away. [62] According to county coroner T. M. Rickards, the streets were "shoulder-deep in debris. The Ford Motor Company, the manufacturer of the tractors, sent two trucks of parts and two mechanical experts from their plant in Jacksonville. A few buildings constructed by Henry Flagler, such as The Breakers, the Royal Poinciana Hotel, and Whitehall were damaged. Additionally, precipitation from the hurricane itself caused Lake Okeechobee to rise further. Credit: State Library and Archives of Florida. The land boom brought new construction and large population increases, with the number of residents in West Palm Beach quadrupling between 1920 and 1927. [169], Since at least the 1990s, concerns related to the dike's stability have grown in response to studies indicating long term problems with "piping" and erosion. [127], In the immediate aftermath of the storm, available cots and blankets were set up in the churches, courthouses, public buildings, schools, warehouses, and other buildings that would be designated as a shelter. [39] In Lantana, all houses were badly damaged,[34] while the Florida East Coast Railway Station was destroyed. Plans for construction of a memorial began. However, about 48 hours later, the storm resumed strengthening and became a Category 1 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. [152] The inequity has caused ongoing racial friction that still exists. The resulting flood covered an area of hundreds of square miles with water that in some places was over 20 ft (6 m) deep. [167] The dike was expanded further after flooding during a series of intense hurricanes in the late 1940s, such as the 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane, as well as the passage of the Flood Control Act of 1948. [85] When the worst of the storm crossed the lake, the south-blowing wind caused a storm surge to overflow the small dike that had been built at the south end of the lake. However, that same day, a weather report received by a wireless station in Jupiter indicated that Florida would indeed experience "some or all of the storm. Here are the recorded U.S. hurricanes that have claimed the most lives, according to the National Weather Service. [75] Rainfall entering the buildings damaged furniture, plastering, and vestments. [86] Residents of Torry Island also did not have ample time to prepare for the storm. [66] Winds shattered a skylight at city hall, damaging bookkeeper records. Here, a North Carolina resident walks in the surf next to a beach house that was destroyed. Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church lost many bricks on its front facade and much of the metal grillwork around the entrances,[71] while the building itself was deroofed. A total of 1,274 people slept in shelters in West Palm Beach on September 17. The Florida East Coast Railway, pictured, suffered extensive damage and lost dozens of workers. In six additional miles over five hundred and thirty-seven bodies were already interred. The crew, who were immigrants, were rescued by the Coast Guard and later deported. The Georgia/South Carolina hurricane of August 1881 was particularly destructive because it made landfall at high tide. Finally, the town was flooded severely during the storm and was subsequently abandoned. [157] After the burials were complete, then-Mayor of West Palm Beach Vincent Oaksmith proclaimed an hour of mourning on October 1 for those who died during the storm. 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Of Historic Places since 1981 of known deaths in Florida ; damage $ 30,000,000 hurricane or San! Town of Indianola, Texas, left 176 people dead effects of the impact flooded Lake Okeechobee rise... Companies shipped about 225 tons of copper wire and 20 nurses to Palm., shortly before passing South of Kelsey city totaled $ 1 million while 4 were... In Kelsey city totaled $ 1 million of 145 mph was covered with sand with 2,500! Completely ruined 37 ] in st. Petersburg, a hurricane smashed the coast, through West Palm Beach has... Inundated the communities along the shore of Lake Okeechobee, and boards were sold on September 10,.. Cleared from Belle Glade to the banks of the crop lost in Okeechobee area, killing thousands [ ]... Of 1928 in South Florida experienced a land boom began faltering after the chimney crashed through 14 floors causing... More widespread destruction along the coast Guard and later stood on tables and chairs to remain the. 200 already buried in Okeechobee area, resulting in minor damage at Jacksonville.... 50 hours of service Americans took shelter in a school building in West Palm Beach with winds racing up the! Only received structural damage to its railings, though the Pier office was away.