The 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane

[cyclonaut]

Maybe some have come across this,maybe some have not..Good reading in any case..This was quite a storm!

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/Okeechobee.htm

[clfenwi]

I came across this during Jeanne last year when looking for examples of storms coming ashore near the same point.

I forget what drew me to it, but I found the warning that was issued on the morning of landfall:

Hoist hurricane warnings 10:30 AM Miami to Daytona, FL * * * No report this morning from Nassau. Indications are that hurricane center will reach the Florida coast near Jupiter early to-night. Emergency. Advice all interests. This hurricane is of wide extend and great severity. Every precaution should be taken against destructive winds and high tides on Florida east coast, especially West Palm Beach to Daytona.

That is from the September 1928 Monthly Weather Review(http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/li ... b/1928.pdf), which is some fascinating reading.

[Brent]

[CFL]

I just finished reading a book on this storm. It's called "Killer Cane - The Deadly Hurricane of 1928" by Robert Mykle. Great read!

[Ola]

That thing hit Puerto Rico as a Cat 5. San Felipe is what they call it here.

[The Big Dog]

Thanks for the link. A lot of the buildings in the pictures of WPB are still standing today. It would be interesting to take a trip downtown sometime to try to get some idea of what the aftermath must have been like. It's so built up now that I'm not sure I could, but just to see it from a modern perspective would be worthwhile.

[knotimpaired]

I just checked our stats. The 1928 storm came over our island (SE of PR) a Cat 5 at 161 mph.

I have read the book "Killer Cane" and it is a most read for hurricane buffs. Great photos.

[MomH]

This is the hurricane during which my ex-husband's grandfather and two uncles tied themselves to trees to keep from blowing away. They lost all the house but one part of a new kitchen wall and the fireplace. One day I'll try to get the pics from my sister in law and post them.

They occassionally still find remains while tilling new fields in that area. I believe more than 400 persons were never found.

[knotimpaired]

If interested, check this site out for info, photos, video's, etc. on the 1928 storm along with most others.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/weathe ... 3167.story

[Derek Ortt]

one interesting ntoe about that terrible cane. I believe that prior to Hurricane Jeanne, that was the last major hurricane to impact Lake Okeechobee

[knotimpaired]

Derek,

The only other significant storm was that of 1949 -


"Major hurricane passes from Palm Beach to Lake Okeechobee. 153 mph gusts at Jupiter. Lake levees built after 1928 disaster hold this time. Storm felt along central and southeast coast."

[Derek Ortt]

did the lake levees hold during Jeanne?

I know that there were 25 foot waves on the Lake during Jeanne and severe tidal flooding on the lake shores

[knotimpaired]

Yes, the levees held but the lake was just below the 17' level which marks the "safe level" due to age, construction, etc.

The South Florida Water Management District did a exceptional job draining the lake prior to Jeanne.

[donsutherland1]

Ola,

San Juan was badly damaged in that hurricane. Indeed, the storm was so vicious that some observers called the 1899 hurricane a mere "zephyr" in comparison.

A photo:


September 13, 1928 (Source: NOAA Historical Photo Collection)

[cyclonaut]

Re clfenwi;

Those must have been frightening days back then!!

To know a big hurricane is coming but not knowing where or when exactly it will strike.Just relying on reports from islands & ships.


Re The Big Dog;

I use to work up in the North Broward & WPB area alot.I would often wonder how conditios were during that 28 cane & also that monstrous 47 cane.Before that I worked in Homestead plenty of times.

Re MomH;

I've been looking into this storm alot lately & needless to say it was quite an event.I would love to see those pics you spoke of!!But theyre your ex-husband's so I won't hold my breath.

Re knotimpaired;

Imagine a situation like that unfolding today,a CAT 5 hitting PR & then South Fla a few days later still as a powerful cane..I love canes but I would rather not see that at this time!

Re Derek Ortt;

I recall the news down here speculating about what might happen to the Lake during both Fances & Jeanne but thankfully nothing tragic happened.

I wonder if a situation like this can happen again to some degree..I know the levees around Lake Okeechobee are much taller & stronger now but I still get concerned when a think about what may happen if a CAT 4 or 5 were to make a direct hit there.

[donsutherland1]

Ironically, the 1926 Miami hurricane also caused Lake Okeechobee to overflow with disastrous flooding. Perhaps that hurricane might have weakened some of the mud walls that surrounded the lake. After the storm, some survivors charged that the mud walls actually had the effect of trapping them and preventing them from escaping the rampaging lake.

[donsutherland1]

For those who might want to learn a little more about Puerto Rico's hurricane history: http://stormcarib.com/climatology/TJVQ_all_isl.htm

[cyclonaut]

Ola,

San Juan was badly damaged in that hurricane. Indeed, the storm was so vicious that some observers called the 1899 hurricane a mere "zephyr" in comparison.

A photo:


September 13, 1928 (Source: NOAA Historical Photo Collection)

Doesnt matter what year or century its,a hurricane will always stick it you you!

Photo courtesy of Andrew

[CentralFlGal]

There are a good selection of before and after pics located here:

http://www.tommymarkham.com/Hurricane/AListPage.htm



If you're going to visit Okeechobee on a hurricane history project, do it soon - the developers are moving in... fast...

[cyclonaut]

Wow that's a wild pic!!!