Lake Okeechobee Hoover Dike: ever storm tested?

[Storminole]

The present NHC forecast track for Frances is obviously very close to the infamous 1928 hurricane that created a storm surge on Lake Okeechobee and caused a horrific death toll.

The Hoover Dike was completed in the 1930s to prevent a reoccurrence--but has it ever really been tested by a strong storm passing close by the lake? I can't recall ever hearing about one. With Frances moving so slowly, it'll have a lot of time to move some water.

[Patrick99]

I think it would take a lot more than Frances to breach the Hoover Dike. That is one high mound of dirt.

[air360]

yet Frances is one sloooooow freaking storm

[Dirteng]

this is going to be scary. From what I've been told and my experience with Okeechobee levee system, the foundation of some of the levee is upon muck. This is because at the time the levee was constructed, the construction methods and our knowledge of the engineering principles were not as advanced. There has been fears that to much hydrostatic pressure (extremely high water levels) could undermine the levees.

I won't even speculate on the results.

[Dirteng]

Good news is I'm sure they were releasing water early in the week to combat this situation. I live and fish in the Stuart area and the water quality and flow under the Roosevelt bridge earlier in the week indicated a water release from Okeechobee.

[Storminole]

The night that 2,000+ were killed along the south shore of Lake Okeechobee in 1928 made for a chilling episode of Storm Stories on TWC. In those days only a five-foot levee offered protection from the lake, but the storm surge reached nearly 12 feet.

I've also read narrative accounts of that horrifying night. Stories of desperate efforts to survive the flood waters in the shrieking winds. People attempting to climb trees found them full of water moccasins also seeking to escape the rising water.

I agree that the Hoover Dike should hold. And that it's too horrible to speculate what would happen if it didn't.

[birdwomn]

Radar almost looks as if the storm is being pulled to the lake...which you know isn't true, but could make a great fiction story to go along with the true historical story of the building of the Hoover Dike.

Is this how an urban legend is created?

[cape_escape]

Radar almost looks as if the storm is being pulled to the lake...which you know isn't true, but could make a great fiction story to go along with the true historical story of the building of the Hoover Dike.

Is this how an urban legend is created?

Hey! I think your on to something! I can see the movie now!