1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane
Encyclopedia
The Fort Lauderdale Hurricane (or Pompano Beach Hurricane or Hurricane George) was an intense Category 5 hurricane that affected the Bahamas
, Florida
, Louisiana
, and Mississippi
in September of the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season
. The fourth tropical cyclone
, third hurricane, and first intense hurricane
of the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season, it developed 230 miles (370 km) east of Praia
, Cape Verde
. It quickly strengthened to a hurricane on September 4. Later, it turned southwest on September 7, and it steadily resumed a northwest motion on September 10. A large, powerful hurricane, it attained its peak intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) over the Abaco Islands
, and it made landfall
near Pompano Beach
, Florida
. It passed over southern Florida, and it eventually struck southeastern Louisiana
as a weaker Category 3 hurricane. It killed 51 people and caused $110 million (1947 USD
) in damage. The tropical cyclone is one of only five hurricanes to strike the United States with maximum sustained winds of at least 155 mph (250 km/h).
over French West Africa
on September 2, 1947. Steadily tracking westward, the system was quickly classified as a depression before moving into the Atlantic Ocean
, near Dakar
, on September 4. Once over water, weather agencies lost track of the system due to a lack of ships in the region. However, the Atlantic hurricane database
, also known as HURDAT, states that the cyclone had obtained tropical storm status, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) during the afternoon of September 4. At that time, the storm was located roughly 200 miles (320 kilometres) west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The storm quickly intensified as it tracked nearly due west, attaining winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), equivalent to a modern day Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, roughly 18 hours after being classified a tropical storm. The hurricane maintained this intensity for nearly five days, taking a southwest turn on September 7 before resuming its westward track two days later. This storm was named George by the Weather Bureau office in Miami, which worked in conjunction with the military at that time.
Operationally, the hurricane was not officially classified until September 10; however, in a re-analysis of the storm, it was determined that maximum winds had reached 100 mph (155 km/h) by that time. Continuing its gradual intensification, the cyclone began to increase in forward motion and took a more northwesterly track. Between September 10 and 15, reconnaissance missions into the storm were made by the United States Navy
as it tracked towards the Bahamas. On September 12, the hurricane attained Category 3 status, with sustained winds reaching 115 mph (175 km/h). The storm had also accelerated to a forward speed of 25 mph (35 km/h) during this period. Several days later, the storm slowed near the eastern Bahamas, nearly stalling at one point. Early on September 16, the hurricane intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, the highest rank obtainable. At this time, the cyclone reached its peak strength winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) roughly 95 miles (155 km) east of Hope Town
, Abaco Islands.
The storm crossed the northern portion of the Abaco Islands, where a weather station claimed a wind reading of 160 mph (260 km/h). As the storm passed over the Gulf Stream
, it lost some strength before landfall. The storm made landfall on September 17 near Fort Lauderdale, Florida
as a strong Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph (250 km/h). Winds of hurricane force extended out roughly 120 miles (195 km) from the center in all directions. The cyclone produced peak gusts of 155 mph (250 km/h) and sustained winds of 122 mph (195 km/h) at Hillsboro Inlet Light
near Pompano Beach; the reading was the highest measured wind speed
recorded in the state
of Florida until Hurricane Andrew
. The hurricane moved slowly inland near 10 mph (16 km/h), and it diminished to a Category 2 hurricane over the Everglades
. The cyclone entered the Gulf of Mexico
near Naples
, and it produced gusts of 120 mph (190 km/h) at Sanibel Island Light
near Fort Myers
.
On September 18, the hurricane's maximum sustained winds diminished to 90 mph (145 km/h). It turned west-northwest, and its forward motion increased to 15 mph (25 km/h). On September 19, the hurricane moved ashore over Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana as a major hurricane. The hurricane weakened as it moved over the New Orleans metropolitan area
, although it's strong winds gusted to 110 mph (175 km/h) in New Orleans. 96 mph sustained winds with 120 mph gusts were recorded near Baton Rouge
, and the cyclone diminished to a strong tropical storm over central Louisiana. On September 20, it weakened to a tropical depression over northeastern Texas
. The remnant circulation turned northeast over southeastern Oklahoma
and northwest Arkansas
. On September 21, it dissipated over southern Missouri
.
were issued for the Florida east coast from Titusville
to Miami
. Northern commercial flights
were grounded at Jacksonville
. 1,500 National Guard troops were ready for mobilization if "deemed necessary" by Florida Governor Millard Caldwell
.
are unknown. Green Turtle Cay
was flooded by 2 feet (610 mm) of water. The cyclone's strong winds damaged or destroyed many homes on the western end of Grand Bahama
; all docks received damages.
coast. Large stretches of State Highway A1A
between Palm Beach
and Boynton Beach
were washed out by the wave action. The Boca Raton Airport
, known then as Boca Raton Army Air Field, received significant damage from the storm, reporting $3 million in damages. The hurricane was unusually large: some reports indicate hurricane-force winds may have extended 120 miles (193.1 km) out from the eye center (from Cape Canaveral
to Coral Gables
).
At Lake Okeechobee
a 20 foot (6 m) storm surge was reported along the south shore between Clewiston
and Moore Haven
, nearly overrunning the Herbert Hoover Dike
that surrounded the lake. Unlike in the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
, the dike held and a much larger catastrophe were averted. However, this 1947 storm prompted a further strengthening of the dike in the 1960s.
The storm was also slow-moving (about 10 mph) and dropped a prodigious amount of rain over the area–records for single-month rainfall were set in many areas, some of which still stand today (others were broken in the 1992
or 2004
seasons), and flooding was among the worst in southern Florida's history. The storm killed 17 people in Florida. The hurricane damaged Citrus
crops in the Fort Pierce
area, and losses were estimated at $4,000,000.
was flooded, with two feet of water shutting down Moisant Field
and six feet of water in parts of Jefferson Parish
. The storm produced an estimated 100 million US dollar
s worth of damage to the city.
A 12 feet (3.7 m) storm surge was reported along the western half of the Mississippi
coastline, causing heavy damage in Bay St. Louis
(which received a 15 feet (4.6 m) storm surge), Gulfport
, and Biloxi
.
Although the storm had weakened by its second landfall, the hydrology
of this location makes it particularly vulnerable to hurricanes. 12 people were killed in Louisiana and 22 in Mississippi.
and at the start of the Cold War
, and striking an area that had recently been hit by other, even more destructive hurricanes, this hurricane was largely forgotten. Building codes and hurricane awareness had improved in Florida since the destructive hurricanes of the 1920s, limiting both damage and loss of life. Yet if this same storm were to hit today it would probably do around $11.72 billion (2004 USD
) in damages.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
in September of the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season
1947 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1947 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 16, 1947, and lasted until November 1, 1947. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
. The fourth tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
, third hurricane, and first intense hurricane
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
of the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season, it developed 230 miles (370 km) east of Praia
Praia
Praia , is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago island in the Sotavento Islands group. It is the island's ferry port and is home to one of the nation’s four international airports...
, Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. It quickly strengthened to a hurricane on September 4. Later, it turned southwest on September 7, and it steadily resumed a northwest motion on September 10. A large, powerful hurricane, it attained its peak intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) over the Abaco Islands
Abaco Islands
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...
, and it made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
near Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It passed over southern Florida, and it eventually struck southeastern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
as a weaker Category 3 hurricane. It killed 51 people and caused $110 million (1947 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damage. The tropical cyclone is one of only five hurricanes to strike the United States with maximum sustained winds of at least 155 mph (250 km/h).
Meteorological history
Hurricane four, commonly referred to as the Fort Lauderdale hurricane, was first monitored as an area of low pressureLow pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
over French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
on September 2, 1947. Steadily tracking westward, the system was quickly classified as a depression before moving into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, near Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, on September 4. Once over water, weather agencies lost track of the system due to a lack of ships in the region. However, the Atlantic hurricane database
HURDAT
The North Atlantic hurricane database, or HURDAT, is the database for all tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, since 1851.-History:...
, also known as HURDAT, states that the cyclone had obtained tropical storm status, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) during the afternoon of September 4. At that time, the storm was located roughly 200 miles (320 kilometres) west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The storm quickly intensified as it tracked nearly due west, attaining winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), equivalent to a modern day Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, roughly 18 hours after being classified a tropical storm. The hurricane maintained this intensity for nearly five days, taking a southwest turn on September 7 before resuming its westward track two days later. This storm was named George by the Weather Bureau office in Miami, which worked in conjunction with the military at that time.
Operationally, the hurricane was not officially classified until September 10; however, in a re-analysis of the storm, it was determined that maximum winds had reached 100 mph (155 km/h) by that time. Continuing its gradual intensification, the cyclone began to increase in forward motion and took a more northwesterly track. Between September 10 and 15, reconnaissance missions into the storm were made by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as it tracked towards the Bahamas. On September 12, the hurricane attained Category 3 status, with sustained winds reaching 115 mph (175 km/h). The storm had also accelerated to a forward speed of 25 mph (35 km/h) during this period. Several days later, the storm slowed near the eastern Bahamas, nearly stalling at one point. Early on September 16, the hurricane intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, the highest rank obtainable. At this time, the cyclone reached its peak strength winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) roughly 95 miles (155 km) east of Hope Town
Hope Town
Hope Town features one of the last operational kerosene-fueled lighthouses in the world. This lighthouse was built in 1862 and became operational two years later, it is striped horizontally red and white. Its light can be seen from away....
, Abaco Islands.
The storm crossed the northern portion of the Abaco Islands, where a weather station claimed a wind reading of 160 mph (260 km/h). As the storm passed over the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
, it lost some strength before landfall. The storm made landfall on September 17 near Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
as a strong Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph (250 km/h). Winds of hurricane force extended out roughly 120 miles (195 km) from the center in all directions. The cyclone produced peak gusts of 155 mph (250 km/h) and sustained winds of 122 mph (195 km/h) at Hillsboro Inlet Light
Hillsboro Inlet Light
Hillsboro Inlet Light is located on the north side of Hillsboro Inlet, midway between Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, in Hillsboro Beach, Florida...
near Pompano Beach; the reading was the highest measured wind speed
Wind speed
Wind speed, or wind velocity, is a fundamental atmospheric rate.Wind speed affects weather forecasting, aircraft and maritime operations, construction projects, growth and metabolism rate of many plant species, and countless other implications....
recorded in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida until Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
. The hurricane moved slowly inland near 10 mph (16 km/h), and it diminished to a Category 2 hurricane over the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
. The cyclone entered the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
near Naples
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
, and it produced gusts of 120 mph (190 km/h) at Sanibel Island Light
Sanibel Island Light
The Sanibel Island Light or Point Ybel Light is the first lighthouse on Florida's Gulf coast north of Key West and the Dry Tortugas. It is located on the eastern tip of Sanibel Island, and was built to mark the entrance to San Carlos Bay for ships calling at the port of Punta Rassa, across San...
near Fort Myers
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
.
On September 18, the hurricane's maximum sustained winds diminished to 90 mph (145 km/h). It turned west-northwest, and its forward motion increased to 15 mph (25 km/h). On September 19, the hurricane moved ashore over Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana as a major hurricane. The hurricane weakened as it moved over the New Orleans metropolitan area
New Orleans metropolitan area
New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner, or the Greater New Orleans Region is a metropolitan area designated by the United States Census encompassing seven parishes in the state of Louisiana, centering on the city of New Orleans...
, although it's strong winds gusted to 110 mph (175 km/h) in New Orleans. 96 mph sustained winds with 120 mph gusts were recorded near Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, and the cyclone diminished to a strong tropical storm over central Louisiana. On September 20, it weakened to a tropical depression over northeastern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The remnant circulation turned northeast over southeastern Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and northwest Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. On September 21, it dissipated over southern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Preparations
Hurricane warningsTropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
were issued for the Florida east coast from Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
to Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Northern commercial flights
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
were grounded at Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. 1,500 National Guard troops were ready for mobilization if "deemed necessary" by Florida Governor Millard Caldwell
Millard F. Caldwell
Millard Fillmore Caldwell was an American politician. He was the 29th Governor of Florida and served in all three branches of government at various times in his life, including as a U.S. Representative and Florida Supreme Court justice.Caldwell was born in the rural area of Beverly, Tennessee,...
.
Bahamas
Damage and deaths in the BahamasThe Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
are unknown. Green Turtle Cay
Green Turtle Cay
Green Turtle Cay is an island in The Bahamas. It is located in the "Abaco Out Islands" and is long and 1/2 mile wide. It was named after the abundance of green turtles that inhabited the area. The population of the island is about 450 and its main settlement is New Plymouth which was founded in...
was flooded by 2 feet (610 mm) of water. The cyclone's strong winds damaged or destroyed many homes on the western end of Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
; all docks received damages.
Florida
At the storm's first landfall, an 11 feet (3.4 m) storm surge was reported along the FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
coast. Large stretches of State Highway A1A
Florida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
between Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
and Boynton Beach
Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...
were washed out by the wave action. The Boca Raton Airport
Boca Raton Airport
Boca Raton Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located two miles northwest of the central business district of Boca Raton, a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States...
, known then as Boca Raton Army Air Field, received significant damage from the storm, reporting $3 million in damages. The hurricane was unusually large: some reports indicate hurricane-force winds may have extended 120 miles (193.1 km) out from the eye center (from Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 10,147...
to Coral Gables
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
).
At Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
a 20 foot (6 m) storm surge was reported along the south shore between Clewiston
Clewiston, Florida
Clewiston is a city in Hendry County, Florida. The population was 6,460 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 7,173. Clewiston is home to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and the Clewiston Museum.-History:...
and Moore Haven
Moore Haven, Florida
Moore Haven is a city in Glades County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,635 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,726. It is the county seat of Glades County...
, nearly overrunning the Herbert Hoover Dike
Herbert Hoover Dike
The Herbert Hoover Dike is a dike around the waters of Lake Okeechobee in Florida.Over the years, the quality of the flood control around the lake has grown. In the 1910s, a small earthen dike was constructed. This containment was breached by the storm surge from the Great Miami Hurricane in 1926...
that surrounded the lake. Unlike in the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
The Okeechobee hurricane, or San Felipe Segundo hurricane, was a deadly hurricane that struck the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Florida in September of the 1928 Atlantic hurricane season...
, the dike held and a much larger catastrophe were averted. However, this 1947 storm prompted a further strengthening of the dike in the 1960s.
The storm was also slow-moving (about 10 mph) and dropped a prodigious amount of rain over the area–records for single-month rainfall were set in many areas, some of which still stand today (others were broken in the 1992
1992 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1992 Atlantic hurricane season had one of the latest dates on record for the first named storm. The season officially began on June 1, 1992, and lasted until November 30, 1992. It was the least active hurricane season in nine years due to a strong El Niño...
or 2004
2004 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
seasons), and flooding was among the worst in southern Florida's history. The storm killed 17 people in Florida. The hurricane damaged Citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
crops in the Fort Pierce
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
area, and losses were estimated at $4,000,000.
Gulf Coast
A large part of Greater New OrleansNew Orleans metropolitan area
New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner, or the Greater New Orleans Region is a metropolitan area designated by the United States Census encompassing seven parishes in the state of Louisiana, centering on the city of New Orleans...
was flooded, with two feet of water shutting down Moisant Field
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a Class B public use international airport in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of New Orleans and is located 10 nautical miles west of its central business district. The airport's address is 900 Airline Drive...
and six feet of water in parts of Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
. The storm produced an estimated 100 million US dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
s worth of damage to the city.
A 12 feet (3.7 m) storm surge was reported along the western half of the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
coastline, causing heavy damage in Bay St. Louis
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay Saint Louis is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,209. It is the county seat of Hancock County...
(which received a 15 feet (4.6 m) storm surge), Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
, and Biloxi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
.
Although the storm had weakened by its second landfall, the hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
of this location makes it particularly vulnerable to hurricanes. 12 people were killed in Louisiana and 22 in Mississippi.
Aftermath
Coming as it did shortly after the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and at the start of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, and striking an area that had recently been hit by other, even more destructive hurricanes, this hurricane was largely forgotten. Building codes and hurricane awareness had improved in Florida since the destructive hurricanes of the 1920s, limiting both damage and loss of life. Yet if this same storm were to hit today it would probably do around $11.72 billion (2004 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damages.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
- List of tropical cyclones