What was the WORST hurricane to ever hit the U.S
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What was the WORST hurricane to ever hit the U.S
Dont just base it on one thing I mean based on Deaths, Damage, Surge, Flooding ALL THE EFFECTS!
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Kinda difficult not to go with the 1900 Galveston Hurricane - it caused death and destruction from the Caribbean to Canada.
See
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane for more info.
See
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane for more info.
Most accounts of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 stop here and focus on the human tragedy that hung over the devastated city. Although the storm winds likely dropped below hurricane force shortly after the storm moved inland, the storm continued its destructive path into Texas, before crossing the southern Plains states and finally recurving to the northeast to pass across the lower Great Lakes. It eventually reached the Atlantic Ocean after crossing over the Canadian Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland on September 12-13.
Along the Texas coast and just inland, the towns of Texas City, Dickinson, Lamarque, Hitchcock, Arcadia, Alvin, Manvel, Brazoria, Columbia and Wharton suffered great damage and loss of life and property. Over half of the buildings in Houston were damaged. Along a path two hundred miles wide, wind and rain blasted inland Texas from the Gulf to the Red River Valley. The inland towns of Hempstead, Chapel Hill, Brenham and Temple were ravaged.
Leaving Texas, the storm moved northward across Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa where it became an extratropical, but no less deadly, storm. Copious rain fell in Minnesota, as much as 127 mm (5 inches) being measured. Six logger were killed on the Eau Claire River in Wisconsin. Winds in Chicago were reported at 128 km/h (80 mph) on the 11th. Telegraph lines were downed, cutting communications across the Midwest.
The storm next moved across Michigan toward southern Lake Huron and the Canadian Province of Ontario. Toronto experienced winds of 80 km/h (50 mph) on the evening of the 11th. Windows were broken across the city. To the south, orchard owners in the Niagara Peninsula and along the Lake Erie shore saw apples, pears and peaches ripped from their trees. About half of the crop, which was ready for harvest, was destroyed -- a loss estimated at $1,000,000 at the time.
On Lake Erie off the Ohio shore, the storm took thirteen lives on the waters when two ships were lost: the steamer John B. Lyon and the schooner Dundee. Although winds had diminished as the storm crossed Ontario, they still made travel on the waters unsafe. On the Ottawa River, yachts at Britannia and Aylmer, Ontario were grounded or dragged away from their anchorage. The steam tug Albert, caught in the gusty winds, released the 14,000 logs it was towing, and the winds scattered them along the shore.
As the storm system approached the Canadian Maritime Provinces on the 12th, it gained strength and again became a killer. Before it moved out into the Atlantic, over 80 Canadians would be dead, possibly 100 or more. Deaths would also be attributed to the storm in Newfoundland (not yet a part of the Canadian Confederation) and the nearby French islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon.
In Prince Edward Island waters, eight small fishing schooners of the Gloucester County, New Brunswick fleet, the Anglesea, Emma, Fly, Frances, Garfield, Hibernia, Nellie and Penguin were lost with 38 reported drowned. In addition, the 35 ton Reality with a crew of four, sunk in Cascumpec Bay at Alberton, Prince Edward Island. Two other fishing vessels the Japan and Midnight were believed to have also foundered in the stormy waters.
On land, extensive damage was also reported. The Halifax Morning Chronicle described it as the worst Nova Scotia storm since 1873, but reported only minor damage within Halifax. On Prince Edward Island, a lobster factory at Seacow Head was totally demolished; a large barn and windmill were blown down at Wilmot; and most orchards had fruit torn from the trees. In New Brunswick, the storm surge and wind-driven waters, coupled with a favourable alignment of the earth, sun and moon, drove an exceptionally high tide up the Bay of Fundy and the Petticodiac River.
With its last slap at North America, the storm crossed Newfoundland from Corner Brook to Gander on the 12th. In its wake, 82 schooners had been driven ashore or sunk and another 100 seriously damaged. At least 50 lives were lost and another 25 missing and presumed dead. South of Newfoundland, the fishing fleet of St. Pierre et Miquelon lost nine schooners and 120 men, leaving 50 children fatherless.
On September 13, the last remnants of the storm raced northeastward across the North Atlantic Ocean curving toward Scandinavia, and finally dying, according to Erik Larson's book Isaac's Storm, somewhere over Siberia.
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I say, the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane for a couple of reasons:::
#1. The strongest hurricane ever to impact the US, and one of the Strongest ever recorded. Made landfall near Craig Key, FL with winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 892 mb.
#2. Major storm surge, it was so big, it even washed away a train.
#3. Winds were so unbelieveable, that damage was catastrophic...and people were sandblasted to death, with the sand even creating sparks.
#4. Deaths of many people, including workers, over 400 atleast.
#1. The strongest hurricane ever to impact the US, and one of the Strongest ever recorded. Made landfall near Craig Key, FL with winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 892 mb.
#2. Major storm surge, it was so big, it even washed away a train.
#3. Winds were so unbelieveable, that damage was catastrophic...and people were sandblasted to death, with the sand even creating sparks.
#4. Deaths of many people, including workers, over 400 atleast.
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I went with the 1900 storm. Whether it happened today or 100 years ago, the fact remains over 8000 people died and there was nothing left of Galveston when the storm was finished. Another aspect, Galveston never recovered with the economy and industry. Galveston was once known as the "Wall Street" of the south. Investors did not have much confidence in Galveston after the storm and moved their business elsewhere. Also, Galveston served as one of the country's busiest trading ports until the 1900 storm completely ruined the port. Houston eventually took over and dug the Ship Channel and now Galveston pretty much survives on the tourist trade. So to me, 1900 storm caused more far reaching tolls that it has yet to overcome.
Last edited by susan on Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I voted for the Great Miami hurricane of 1926....because it's impact on Americans went far beyond deaths and damage in south Florida and the Florida panhandle & Alabama.....it affected every single American in one way or another.
The 1926 hurricane was the "final nail in the coffin" for the Florida economic boom turned bust; the ramifications of which were contributing factors that led three years later to the "Black Friday" collapse on Wall Street...leading to the Great Depression (which created the desperate conditions ripe for Hitler's rise to power...which lit the fuse for World War II
All in all, the Great Miami hurricane may have contributed to more deaths, heartache, fear, and despair for people on earth than any other Atlantic hurricane in history....
PW
The 1926 hurricane was the "final nail in the coffin" for the Florida economic boom turned bust; the ramifications of which were contributing factors that led three years later to the "Black Friday" collapse on Wall Street...leading to the Great Depression (which created the desperate conditions ripe for Hitler's rise to power...which lit the fuse for World War II


All in all, the Great Miami hurricane may have contributed to more deaths, heartache, fear, and despair for people on earth than any other Atlantic hurricane in history....
PW
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- johngaltfla
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SouthernWx wrote:I voted for the Great Miami hurricane of 1926....because it's impact on Americans went far beyond deaths and damage in south Florida and the Florida panhandle & Alabama.....it affected every single American in one way or another.
The 1926 hurricane was the "final nail in the coffin" for the Florida economic boom turned bust; the ramifications of which were contributing factors that led three years later to the "Black Friday" collapse on Wall Street...leading to the Great Depression (which created the desperate conditions ripe for Hitler's rise to power...which lit the fuse for World War II![]()
All in all, the Great Miami hurricane may have contributed to more deaths, heartache, fear, and despair for people on earth than any other Atlantic hurricane in history....
PW
Bingo. Same reason I voted for it. Also think about this; with the rampant real estate speculation on BOTH coasts of Florida, what would happen if a Cat 4 or Cat 5 storm (bigger than Andrew) hit either coast? That's right, it would wipe out billions of "investment" dollars and probably kill thousands.
The people down here just are not ready for a major hurricane in the Tampa-St. Pete or Miami to West Palm Beach corridors.

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