Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only. When you talk about florida, you have to talk about hurricanes, says eliot kleinberg, author of the book black cloud. An archaeological site in the lake okeechobee basin florida. 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. A noaa image of destruction that occurred in west palm beach, florida during the okeechobee hurricane. Black then floridas okeechobee hurricane of 1928 and. The effects of the 1928 okeechobee hurricane in florida included at least 2,500 fatalities in the. Effects of the 1928 okeechobee hurricane in florida wikipedia. Welcome to florida time, a weekly column about florida history. The 1928 lake okeechobee hurricane chronicles the story of the second deadliest hurricane in american history. If you live in the caribbean or florida, youve probably heard tales. The okeechobee hurricane of 1928 or else called hurricane san felipe segundo was one of the most deadliest hurricanes ever to struck the south.
S, most of the fatalities occurred in the state of florida. Can lake okeechobees aging dike handle what could come from hurricane dorian. Also known as the saint felipe phillip segundo hurricane, it developed in the far eastern atlantic before making its way over. Both authors answered a few questions about their books. The okeechobee hurricane or hurricane san felipe segundo was a deadly hurricane that struck the leeward islands, puerto rico, the bahamas, and florida in september of the 1928 atlantic hurricane. Excerpt from the book floridas hurricane history, by jay barnes. Recent books recount horror of 1928 lake okeechobee. Ask vernie boots, people here say when they hear youre interested in knowing about the 1928 hurricane and lake okeechobee and the everglades. With the high death toll, it is considered to be second worst hurricane since the galveston hurricane. They know that whole towns can be washed away in a matter of hours, wiping out generations of families with no. The storm made landfall near west palm beach, florida, early on september 17. In the background are houses that have been reduced to their most sturdy elements, while debris in the foreground is other destroyed homes. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the okeechobee hurricane like never before, in no time at all. Recent books recount horror of 1928 lake okeechobee hurricane.
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. The great florida hurricane of 1928 kleinberg, eliot on. The hurricane killed an estimated 2,500 people in the u. This book is very informative about a little known aspect of floridas hurricane history. The okeechobee hurricane also known as the san felipe segundo hurricane of sept. Two recent books by authors eliot kleinberg and wayne neely detail the horrors of this savage storm. The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 devastated the caribbean and south florida, and killed thousands. Also known as the saint felipe phillip segundo hurricane, it developed in the. An eyewitness to the 1928 lake okeechobee hurricane in florida looks back on his childhood experience over 80 yeas ago. Florida is under a state of emergency and the new track is moving closer to south florida. 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. Bahamian meteorologist wayne neelys book, the great okeechobee hurricane of 1928, delves into details about the storms devastation across the caribbean and bahamas. Effects of the 1928 okeechobee hurricane in florida. 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 lake okeechobee hurricane is an example of an event that was a learning experience for the american society. The story of the second deadliest hurricane in american history and the deadliest hurricane in. 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. 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. The storm would rage over boca raton, delray beach, lake worth, palm beach, west palm beach, pompano beach, and lake okeechobee. 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 by wayne neely. The effects of the 1928 okeechobee hurricane in florida included at least 2,500 fatalities in the state of florida, making this the second deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of the contiguous united states, behind only the 1900 galveston hurricane. The cyclone travelled across puerto rico, the virgin islands, and the bahamas before finally reaching florida. The storm turned and crossed the bahamas before smashing ashore at west palm beach, florida on september 1617, 1928. 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 workers and florida residents. Eliot kleinberg audio books, best sellers, author bio.
The lessons that we learn as human beings should help us to become better people by correcting the past errors. Photo from wikipedia, public domain eightyeight years ago, a savage hurricane tore across the caribbean, killing thousands. Okeechobee hurricane, storm of 1928 over 2500 perished. In the summer of 1928, heavy rainfall raised lake okeechobees water level three feet above normal. The darkened skies, howling winds, and pelting rain can be harrowing. Officially 1,836 people died around lake okeechobee, but a separate mass burial of black farm workers numbered hundreds more.
Among the dead were 700 black floridians men, women, and children who were buried in an unmarked west palm beach ditch during a racist recovery and rebuilding effort that conscripted the labor of blacks much like latterday slaves. The hurricane of 1928 was particularly devastating to residents of south florida. A category 4 hurricane struck the palm beach area of florida bringing storm surges as high as 20 feet crashing into the barrier islands. 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. Meteorologist wayne neely of nassau, bahamas, author of the great okeechobee hurricane of 1928.
The hurricane originated from a tropical depression that formed near dakar, senegal, on september 6. Even before it hit the florida coast, the hurricane had already killed between 300 to 1,000 people, injuring thousands more. This is her bestknown work and it was included on time magazines 2005 list of the 100 best englishlanguage novels published since 1923. That fall, a hurricane smashed the coast of florida, and the impact flooded lake okeechobee. A great number of houses and buildings were swept away in the storm. Floridas okeechobee hurricane of 1928 and the disgraceful burial for thousands of blacks 2 posted by jae jones november 5, 2018 latest posts. But the survivors of the great okeechobee hurricane of sept. On september 16, 1928, a category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 miles per hour tore through palm beach county florida.
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. Okeechobee hurricane homeland security digital library. 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 was the second deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of.
The okeechobee hurricane of 1928 introduction and timeline. The okeechobee hurricane of 1928 season 31 episode 1. Can lake okeechobees aging dike handle what could come. He has written 10 books, all focusing on florida, including black cloud, on the great 1928 okeechobee hurricane. Its officially hurricane season in florida, and today, we hear about the great okeechobee hurricane of 1928. The 1928 lake okeechobee hurricane and millions of other books are available. The great okeechobee hurricane of 1928 on apple books. Although it was one of the deadliest hurricanes in history, taking the lives of 7,000 people as it swept from the caribbean to canada, it has been largely forgotten. The paperback of the the great okeechobee hurricane of 1928. 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 in a book. Herb donald, a survivor of the september 1928 okeechobee hurricane, described seeing a mother holding a baby, sitting on top of a.
On september 16, 1928, a devastating hurricane struck florida. In midseptember 1928 one of the worst hurricanes in united states history ravaged the gulf coast. The okeechobee hurricane of 1928, also known as the san felipe segundo hurricane, was. Hurricane of 1928 devastated south florida, killing thousands. Lake okeechobee hurricane of the 1928 essay example. The okeechobee hurricane struck the leeward islands, puerto rico, and the bahamas, before reaching florida on september 16, 1928.
183 563 1225 27 644 134 1219 1072 168 375 590 1102 1523 215 552 967 1403 434 1454 1252 1163 753 390 195 1032 181 527 596 1165 739 425 370 704