The effects of the 1928 Okeechobee storm in Florida include at least 2,500 deaths in the state of Florida, making this the second deadliest tropical storm in US history, behind only the 1900 Galveston storm. The storm came from a tropical depression that formed near Dakar, Senegal, on 6 September. 6. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Typhoons strike the Small Antartel, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas as strong storms. Beginning on September 17, the storm made landfall near West Palm Beach, Florida, as a category 4 hurricane on the modern Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. After that, it moves further inland across the Southeastern United States and becomes extratropical over North Carolina on September 20, before the remnants lose their identity in Ontario on September 21st.
Along the east coast of Florida, the most severely reported damage from Miami to Fort Pierce, especially in Palm Beach County. In West Palm Beach, one of the worst affected coastal cities, a total of 1,711 homes were destroyed and another 6,369 were damaged, leaving some 2,100 families homeless. In addition, the storm destroyed 268 businesses and affected 490 others. There were four deaths, and severe damage amounted to just under $ 13.8 million (1928 USD). In Palm Beach, which has many homes owned by rich people, about 1,500 homes and 500 businesses were destroyed. The damage amounts to about $ 10 million. Inland, many communities on the southern and eastern shores of Lake Okeechobee, such as Belle Glade towns, Canal Point, Chosen, Miami Locks (now Lake Harbor), Pahokee, and South Bay, were flooded after a storm surge produced water running out of shallow lakes on small dikes. Many structures were wiped out or destroyed, and at least 2,500 people drowned. Overall, the storm caused damage of at least $ 25 million.
Video Effects of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane in Florida
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A tropical depression flourished off the west coast of Africa on 6 September. The depression was reinforced into a tropical storm later on, just before passing south of the Cape Verde Islands. Further intensification was slow and halted at the end of September 7. However, some 48 hours later, the storm again strengthened and became a category 1 hurricane on the modern Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. The system reached Category 4 intensity before attacking Guadeloupe on 12 September. Around noon on September 13, the storm rose to a category 5 hurricane, culminating with a maximum wind speed of 160 mph (268 km/h). About six hours later, the system made landfall in Puerto Rico; it is the only recorded tropical cyclone to attack the island as Category 5. After emerging into the Atlantic, the storm slightly weakens, falling to Category 4 intensity. It begins to cross through the Bahamas on September 16. Beginning on September 17, the storm made landfall near West Palm Beach, Florida, with 145 mph (235 km/h) winds. As it crosses Florida, the system weakens significantly, falling to Category 1 intensity on September 17. Curved north-northeast and briefly re-emerged into the Atlantic on September 18, but soon made another landing near Edisto Island, South Carolina, with 85 mph winds (140 km/h). The next day, the system weakened into a tropical storm and became extratropical over North Carolina a few hours later.
After World War I, South Florida experienced a land boom. The explosion of land brought new construction and large population increases, with the number of residents in West Palm Beach quadrupling between 1920 and 1927. The New York Times article from 1925 noted that development in Florida "yielded no parallel ". However, the ground explosion began to falter after Miami's 1926 storm and real estate fraud. Inland, communities along the shores of Lake Okeechobee are predominantly agricultural communities. Agricultural productivity is growing rapidly in the area due to fertile and black soils. Prior to the 1928 hurricane, Lake Okeechobee was surrounded by a mud embankment on average 4Ã, ft (1.2 m) in height. The southwestern side of the embankment was violated during the Miami storm of 1926, destroying Clewiston and Moore Haven and drowning as many as 300 people. Since 1924, the Florida Legislature sought to obtain authorization and funding for flood control around Lake Okeechobee. However, according to Congressman Herbert J. Drane, little has been done to reduce similar disasters.
Maps Effects of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane in Florida
Preparation
In the days before the storm, some forecasters stated that there was almost no possibility of a storm making landfall in Florida. Richard W. Gray, chief meteorologist at the Weather Bureau's office in Miami, estimates on September 12 that the storm will move west and eventually disappear over the YucatÃÆ'¡n Channel. However, the storm even moved west after attacking Puerto Rico. On September 14, a newspaper noted that "there seems to be a trend toward the curve in the east," which means that a landing in Florida is highly unlikely. A. J. Mitchell from the Jacksonville Weather Bureau's office stated that "the storm no longer threatens the lower East Coast of Florida.", While Gray states that "it is unlikely that a storm will affect the east coast of Florida." Mariano GutiÃÆ'Â © rrez-Lanza from the Jesuit observatory in Belen, Cuba, agrees and notes that Cuba and Florida should not be worried about the cyclone. However, on the same day, the weather reports received by wireless stations in Jupiter show that Florida will actually experience "some or all of the storms."
Although local newspapers such as The Palm Beach Post began acknowledging on September 15 that the storm could invade Florida, Gray remained completely convinced that the storm would not make landfall and instead estimated that the wind would reach only 35 mph (56 km/hour). However, Gray still issued a storm warning from Miami to Titusville and also suggested that "any precautions should be taken should a storm warning be found necessary on the east coast of Florida." At the beginning of September 16, a storm warning was issued from Miami to Daytona Beach, with Gray predicting that the storm would make a landing near Jupiter. The agency advised residents to enact precautions for the storm, citing the potency of strong winds and waves. Throughout the day, cyclone warnings were also posted for the west coast from Punta Rassa to Apalachicola, and after a repeated storm, a storm warning extended along the east coast to Jacksonville.
Despite the possibility of landing in the days before the passing of the storm, the Red Cross chapter of the American Red Cross began to prepare for the storm. Dr William J. Buck, possibly the only doctor between Pahokee and Moore Haven as well as chairman of the Belle Glade city council and founder of the American Legion's post in the city, was skeptical of Weather Forecast predictions about a missing storm in South Florida. He and his legionnaires warned residents in the Okeechobee Lake region of an approaching cyclone. In the South Bay, Frank Schuster made several car trips to save 211 people by transporting them to higher ground. The Seminoles at Brighton's Seminole Indian Reservation in Glades County were evacuated to higher ground after observing the retreating wildlife. Hours before the storm swooped, many people around Lake Okeechobee crammed home or evacuated to buildings they believed to be safe, such as the Belle Glade Hotel, Glades Hotel and Henry Martin store in Belle Glade, with Glades Hotel accommodating 20 people and Belle Glade Hotel has nearly 150 refugees. About 500 people in Lake Worth were sheltered inside the Gulf Stream Hotel during a storm. In West Palm Beach, food and thousands of candles, kerosene lamps, and boards were sold on September 16th. A number of residents boarded their homes and then secured their trees and ornamental plants. In the building later used as the Palm Beach Court Building, about 500 people sought shelter in it. In Jupiter, 20 people sought refuge at a grocery store, while 25 lived in a newly built primary school. A number of African-Americans take refuge in a school building in West Jupiter.
Impact
Strong winds hit southern Florida as a typhoon moved ashore, with three unofficial reports of 100 mph (160 km/h). In Miami in the south of the center, winds reach 78 mph (126 km/h), and further south, Key West reports winds of only 39 mph (63 km/h). The eyes on the mainland dropped 25 miles (40 km), and after moving inland across Lake Okeechobee, where quiet was reported for 30 minutes. Winds at Canal Point, adjacent to the lake, are estimated to be as high as 160 mph (255 km/h); anemometer exploded after reporting ongoing winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). The pressure at the Canal Point dropped to 942 mbar (27.82 inHg). The lowest pressure in northern Lake Okeechobee is 966 mbar (28.54 in Hg) in Bartow, and along the west coast, winds reach 31 mph (50 km/h) in Tampa.
Overall, property damage is estimated at $ 25 million. It is estimated that if a similar storm will strike in 2002, it will cause about $ 16 billion damage. This typhoon remains one of three Atlantic storms to attack southern Florida's mainland with a central pressure below 940 mbar (27.76 inHg), the other being Miami's 1926 storm and Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Due to well-issued typhoon warnings, the population prepared for the storm, and the number of lives lost on the coast of Palm Beach County is only 26. However, it is estimated that there are at least 2,500 deaths, especially in the area around Lake Okeechobee. About 75% of casualties are migrant farm workers, making identification of dead and missing corpses extremely difficult; as a result, the dead count is not very accurate. The Red Cross estimates the number of fatalities in 1,836, taken as official counts by the National Weather Service for years (and exactly the official count for Hurricane Katrina). Older sources usually mention 3,411 as the total number of fatalities, including the Caribbean. However, in 2003 the US death count was revised as "at least" 2,500, making Okeechobee storm the second deadliest natural disaster in US history behind Galveston Hurricane of 1900; a mass grave in Mayaca Port Cemetery east of Mayaca Port contains the bodies of 1,600 storm victims.
In addition to human fatalities, 1,278 cattle and 47,389 birds were killed, respectively. Agriculture is significantly affected, with the storm destroying what might be "the largest citrus crop in industrial history". About 6% of oranges and 18% of grapefruit are destroyed, respectively. Harvesting of the remaining crops was postponed until mid-October because the forest was inundated. Communication is also suffering greatly. Across the state, 32,000 households were left without telephone service and 400 poles were damaged and about 2,500 others reclined. Then-Florida Governor John W. Martin estimates that 15,000 families are displaced in Palm Beach County alone. In addition, about 11,500 families will need to be "re-established".
Residence to Lake Worth
Storms generate nearly 6 in (150 mm) rainfall around the Homestead, leaving high water damaging some truck plants and shrubs. In Miami, sustained winds reach 60 mph (97 km/h), generally limiting damage to awnings, glass windows, trees, and vegetation, while disrupting electricity and telegraph services. Heavy rains ravaged several homes and offices and left several streets south of Miami bypassed. Florida East Coast Railway Station at Hallandale Beach is almost destroyed. Windows and roofs were damaged in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, but the damage was small overall. At the last, the storm knocked out power lines, telephone cables, and trees, and destroyed the garage. Wind also deroof some buildings. Storm surge and abnormally high tides flooded some of the coastal roads around Las Olas Boulevard, although minor damage occurred on the highway itself. The storm caused two deaths in the city. The road along the beach to the north of Fort Lauderdale is covered in sand. The newly built Pompano Theater at Pompano Beach is heavily damaged. The Kester building, drug store, and grocery store also suffered. Nearly all small skeletal houses were destroyed in Deerfield Beach, while some residents estimated that at least 50% of homes were destroyed. The post offices, depots, and business blocks of the city were also destroyed. A freight train was thrown off the track. An eight-year-old boy drowned in a ditch near his family's search for refugees, while 51 additional people were injured throughout Broward County.
In Boca Raton, a longtime resident and husband of former mayor Jones Cleveland "J.C." Mitchell, Floy Mitchell, recalls that almost all buildings were damaged, with almost a third of the buildings destroyed. A total of 32 houses were damaged, while 4 businesses were demolished and 25 houses were severely damaged. At the Cloister Inn, the windows were shattered and the roof was broken. Across the street from the Cloister Inn, 32 train carriage rides along the East Coast of Florida Train are thrown by the wind to the nearby moat. A short distance to the north, a warehouse and a building occupied by a restaurant and a flattened shop. One death occurred in Boca Raton. In the Japanese community known as Yamato, some skeletal houses were demolished, while a shop was badly damaged. In Delray Beach, four churches were severely damaged and Alta Repp and Seacrest hotels lost their roofs. A total of 277 homes were destroyed, while 750 other residences were damaged, leaving about 350 families homeless. In addition, 77 businesses were damaged and 19 businesses were damaged, including ice factories, dry cleaners, milling plants, and businesses adjacent to the Masonic Temple. The bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway is largely intact; this is the only passable bridge between Delray Beach and West Palm Beach. The storm left four fatalities and more than $ 1 million damage. One death occurs after a woman is attacked by a chimney fall, while another person dies when her home collapses. The Palm Beach Post reported on September 17 that "several others, mostly negro, were killed," but recorded only one death to Delray Beach on September 18.
At Boynton Beach, 15 people were injured by collapsing roofs while taking refugees in a high school auditorium. The First Unified Methodist Church was destroyed, along with its record. Eighteen businesses suffered total devastation, while thirty-four were damaged. A total of 46 dwellings were destroyed, with another 251 damaged. The storm caused about $ 1 million damage. Under the bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway, two barges are moved beneath the structure, causing it to move upwards of 2Ã, ft (0.61 m). In Lantana, all the houses were badly damaged, while the Florida East Coast Railway Station was destroyed. The bridge crossing the Intercoast Strait was moved from the turntable and turned sideways toward the water, while the approach and tresses were damaged. One death occurred in the city after a man suffered from exposure and surrendered to his condition on 27 September. In Lake Worth, a damage survey shortly after the storm showed that the typhoon destroyed 600 homes and damaged 1,500 other residences, leaving about 700 people. homeless, overall, less than 10% of homes that survived the damage. About 50 businesses were damaged and 200 others received damage - about 75% of buildings in the business district. Several additional buildings were destroyed, including a sports equipment store, St. Episcopal Church. Andrew, and First Presbyterian Church. The Oakley Theater was almost destroyed, with its roof and walls crumbling. Strong winds made the Gulf Stream Hotel severely damaged and damaged the fifth and sixth floors, while storm surges leave the sections of the lobby with sand up to 7 feet (2.1 m).
Other severely damaged buildings in the city include the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Masonic Temple, hotels, car dealerships, investment companies and the Lake Worth Community College auditorium. In addition, Lake Worth Old Town Hall was partially destroyed. Along the northwest corner of the building, its exterior walls collapsed entirely, while the north tower was destroyed and the bay on the northeast side of the building was removed. The roof was totally damaged. As a result, Lake Worth is without a functional center for the city government. The temporary city hall was set up in the Lauriston building. In addition, nearly 700Ã, ft (210 m) bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway collapsed, leaving the bridge "virtually irreparable." Damage in Lake Worth reached about $ 4 million, including about $ 400,000 in damage to municipal property. Three deaths occurred in Lake Worth, two of the diseases linked to storm exposure; the other is a man suffering from apoplexy, who is blamed for excessive exertion after a storm. The city of Greenacres, merged only two years earlier, was almost completely destroyed during a storm in 1926 and almost completely destroyed by this storm. Two deaths occurred in Greenacres. At Loxahatchee Groves, almost every residence is thrown from its foundation. Along the beach, there was little washing between Delray Beach and Briny Breezes, where some houses suffered minor damage. However, the northern area of ​​Briny Breezes south of Lake Worth Casino, "completely drifted away". In South Palm Beach, Mirimar Inn is almost destroyed. The roof was torn and blown into nearby homes. The structure itself is "twisted" and looks irreparable.
West Palm Beach to Jupiter
In the weeks leading up to the storm, West Palm Beach observed 18.42 deep (468 mm) rainfall, at least 10 in (250 mm) that fell during the storm. Among the destroyed buildings include furniture stores, pharmacies, warehouses, hotels, schools, and irons, while many other structures are not assembled. All theaters in town were broken. The Kettler Theater, the first theater built in West Palm Beach, was severely damaged, totaling about $ 125,000. Arcade and Stanley were also badly damaged, but Stanley quickly reopened in October. In addition, the Flamingos were destroyed, with only the remaining wall standing, "and a little precious of them." Skylights in the county courthouse were destroyed, flooding the Criminal Justice Note room. Many of the collapsed buildings are wooden frames, while some concrete constructed buildings remain standing. Only one business on Clematis Street - West Palm Beach's main business street - escapes serious damage. Since the hospital was partially destroyed, a temporary hospital was set up in Hotel Pennsylvania. However, the hotel itself is run-down; Its chimney falls through the 14th floor, causing damage of about $ 60,000. The fire station also collapsed, although the fire bell remained intact. In the city library, then located at City Park (now known as Flagler Park), more than half the books were destroyed and the floor was covered with about 2Ã, ft (0.61 m) of water and mud. The wind smashed the roof window at the town hall, damaging the record of the bookkeeper.
Banyan Boulevard (then known as First Street), considered a row of West Palm Beach cars, was reduced to "mass of debris." Only two buildings remain on the north side of the road between Dixie Highway and Olive Avenue, which has the construction of a weak business building in that part of town. The roof and equipment in The Palm Beach Post building were damaged after the chimney fell. However, The Palm Beach Post is able to publish newspapers. In the Palm Beach Times, the building was partially destroyed, causing the company's engine to be damaged by rain. Despite the damage, the Palm Beach Times is also publishing a short edition on the afternoon of September 17th. The Central Farmers Trust Company, the only city bank, is deroofed and flooded. The Comeau Building, which has been listed as the National Register of Historic Places since 1996, severely damaged its roof; they are subsequently replaced. Before the storm, the American Legion building was designated as the headquarters of the Red Cross, but the building was severely damaged, forcing the Red Cross to set up its aid station in another building. At Palm Beach High School, then located where Dreyfoos School of Arts stands today, the clock tower collapses. Most of the buildings in Saint Ann's Catholic Church are close together, including rectory and school facilities, while Bradley Hall Towers are destroyed. The rainfall that enters the building destroys furniture, plastering, and clothing. The Flamingo Park is one of the hardest hit areas of the city. Many homes suffer from "unspeakable damage", while the shopping center on Lake Avenue is almost completely destroyed. In contrast, the El Cid and Northwood areas are particularly affected by the "superficial" ones. Many roads in Vedado are blocked by fallen pine trees. In Bacon Park, the western area of ​​Parker Avenue is quiet. The L. Van Son House, expressed as "one of the most unusual buildings", was destroyed.
In the part of African American cities, where most of the dwellings are built of discarded materials, many houses are damaged. In one street, only two houses do not lose their walls or roofs. Walls and cars wobbled on the streets. During the storm, about 100 people ran into the incinerator, a reinforced concrete building. Some local black churches suffered significant damage. The Baptist Church of Missionaris Tabernacle lost many bricks on the front facade and most of the iron bars around the entrance, while the building itself was a dugoffer. The Payne Chapel AME Church, located on Banyan Boulevard and Tamarind Avenue, was destroyed by a storm. St. Catholic Church Patrick received about $ 40,000 in damages. The waves swept sandbanks and debris along Banyan Boulevard, Clematis Street, and Datura Street, onto Olive Avenue. According to local speaker T. M. Rickards, the streets are "as tall as shoulders in the debris. Suffering throughout is beyond words." A total of 1,711 houses were destroyed and damaged 6,369 other houses were damaged, causing about 2,100 families homeless. In addition, the storm destroyed 268 businesses and affected 490 others. There was severe damage that amounted to just under $ 13.8 million and eleven deaths, with one from being fatal hit by the debris. At Southern Bell's office in West Palm Beach, a barometer pressure of 929 mbar (27.4 inHg), the lowest recorded in US history at the time.
Likewise, there is also severe wind damage in Palm Beach. Some of the buildings built by Henry Flagler, such as The Breakers, Royal Poinciana Hotel, and Whitehall were damaged. At Royal Poinciana, the hotel's botanical gardens, which contain hundreds of exotic trees and plants, are almost completely destroyed. The golf club suffered severe damage on the roof, while the field was flooded several inches to several meters from the water. Waves flooded and swept leaves and trees at J. Leonard Replogle's home. Housing Edward T. Stotesbury suffered severe damage and looked like "the forests ahead during the war." Rodman Wanamaker's home, known as "La Guerida" and later "Winter White House" during John F. Kennedy's presidency, suffered heavy damage during the storm. The Alba, Billows, New Palm Beach, and Royal Daneli Hotel all suffered water damage, while Alba Hotel was also deroofed. Nearby, the Pelangi Dock only received structural damage to its railing, though the dock office was blown up. The rain enters the building occupied by Hatches, inc., Destroying about 50% of the merchandise. Two bridges on Jalan Negara 80 were swept away. The Florida East Coast Bridge lost the fence, but remained partially opened to traffic. About 1,500 homes and 500 businesses were destroyed in Palm Beach. The damage amounts to about $ 10 million.
Palm Beach offshore, two Coast Guard cutters from Pacific Fernandina Beach, 188 and 230 , discovered the rough seas generated by the typhoon. The skippers and their crew effortlessly moved the ship to Lake Worth through an entrance pit. Some holes were pierced at 188 and the ship lost the wheel, while 230 lost the steering device and about 40Ã, ft (12 m) paid off.
The torrential rains at Westgate flooded the Okeechobee Road. On the Riviera Beach, the storm destroyed 500 homes and impacted 1,000 others. About 100 businesses were destroyed and 50 others suffered losses. Overall, the damage on the Riviera Beach reached about $ 750,000. The bridge connecting the Riviera Beach to Singer Island across the Intercoastal Waterway was partially destroyed. Kelsey City, now known as Lake Park, was similarly affected. During the storm, many residents sought refuge in the town hall, which was almost destroyed by the storm. However, it was later revised and has been listed as U.S. National Register of Historic Places. since 1981. The gymnasium and auditorium collapsed. Across the city, 200 homes were totally destroyed and 300 homes were damaged. A total of 75 businesses were destroyed and the same number affected. The cost of damage in Kelsey City reaches $ 1 million.
In Jupiter, the storm destroyed 50 dwellings and affected 425 others. Six businesses were destroyed and thirteen others were damaged. The storm surge leaves the waist-high water in some areas. A pavilion near the sea was swept away. Some boathouses are washed from their foundations and then destroyed. A boat in a boathouse near the East East Railroad Bridge bridge was swept out of the building. Nearby, the Loxahatchee River reaches 8Ã, ft (2.4 m) on the railroad tracks. In addition to causing damage to homes and businesses, strong winds also toppled telephone poles and cars overturned. Seventeen windmills were destroyed at Pennock Plantation. Two 300Ã, ft (91 m) towers are tapped at Jupiter Inlet Jupiter Station. In Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, mortars were reported to be "squeezed... like toothpaste" between bricks during a storm, swinging the 17th tower at (430 mm) from the base. The lighthouse keeper, Captain Seabrook, and his son, Franklin, worked to turn on the light during the storm after the power went out. Once the generator fails to work, they instantly turn on the light coat. The building previously used as a Weather Bureau Office was destroyed. Nearby, six people died after a house was destroyed. Six other casualties occurred to the west of Jupiter after the school where people were looking for shelters collapsed. The damage in Jupiter reaches about $ 900,000.
Okeechobee Lake Area
Inland, hurricanes carry wider destruction along the southeast and northern shores of Lake Okeechobee. Residents had been warned to evacuate low ground earlier in the day, but after the storm did not come on schedule, many thought it had escaped and returned to their homes. In the weeks before the storm, heavy rains caused the lake to rise 3Ã, ft (0.91 m) between August 10 and September 10 and fill the canals and moats nearby. In addition, the rainfall from the storm itself causes Okeechobee Lake to rise further. When the worst storm crossed the lake, the wind blew south causing a storm surge overflowing a small embankment built on the southern edge of the lake. The resulting flood covers an area of ​​hundreds of square miles with water in some places more than 20 feet (6 m). Homes are shattered from their foundations and smashed into pieces against whatever obstacles they encounter. Most of the victims and corpses were washed into the Everglades where many bodies were never found. Agricultural losses in the area around Lake Okeechobee are also significant, with almost all the crops destroyed and over 150 tractors damaged.
On Kreamer Island, many residents received information about the storm when it was too late to evacuate. In some homes, 20-30 people seek shelter inside and then stand on tables and chairs to stay on the water. Most of the houses drift into pine trees and others more than half a mile (0.8 km). Nevertheless, only one person drowned on the island. The inhabitants of Torry Island also do not have enough time to prepare for the storm. They tried to evacuate, but the highway was already inundated, forcing twenty-three people to seek refuge in the packing house. Flood water enters the building, forcing the occupants into the rafters. However, the building was eventually pushed to the nearest canal. Ten people drowned, but thirteen others survived by clinging to a barge or tree top, while a woman tied herself to a telegraph pole. The other survivors were swept away from where the building used to stand. A teenage boy was taken from packing to the Everglades Experimental Station in Belle Glade - a distance of about 8 mi (13 km). On Ritta Island, a number of people who managed to climb onto the roof of their house died after being attacked by trees or bitten by water moccasins.
Belle Glade suffered the most deaths in any city, with 611 confirmed deaths. Once the levee at Lake Okeechobee fails, the water reaches at least 7 feet (2.1 m) above the ground in a Belle Glade portion. At the Glades Hotel, water enters the lobby and rises so fast that the last two people reached the second floor nearly drowned on the stairs. The Glades Hotel is the only building in the city left. The first floor of the Belle Glade Hotel was also flooded, forcing passengers to go up to the second floor. They were then exposed to wind and rain after the roof exploded. Nearby, a building containing restaurants, furniture stores, and drugstores was stuck together; residents of 20 to 30 people fled to Glades Hotel. Further east, the water reaches a height of 3Ã, ft (0.91 m) at the Everglades Experiment Station. Plants in the surrounding area, used for experiments, are completely destroyed. There, a sustained wind speed of 92 mph (148 km/h) was observed before an anemometer was destroyed. The wind deroofed all the buildings except two bungalows, one of which sheltered 40 people, and a service house for a greenhouse. A garage, two worker cabins, and a five-room bungalow were destroyed, as were parts of a greenhouse.
The town of Pahokee, largely situated on a ridge, resembles an island because of the high water around it. Lowland areas are rapidly flooded, with several rows of drifting houses, including in Bacom Point and areas near the Pelican River. Many deaths in the city occur when storm surges are moving back and forth. At the height of the storm, the dwelling on the ridge begins to wash, with nothing left on the western side of the ridge. Overall, about 75% of buildings and houses in the city were destroyed, with banks and school houses being "probably only two buildings left standing in substantial condition." A total of 153 deaths were confirmed in Pahokee. Newspapers like The Palm Beach Times initially reported about 450 deaths in Pelican Bay, located between Belle Glade and Pahokee. However, Everglades News editor Howard Sharp noted that the death toll was "incomprehensible to people familiar with the area" and that "there is no 'Pelican Bay village'". Canal Point and Mayaca Ports are likely flooded with only 1.5-2.5 ft (0.46-0.76 m) of water, saving cities significant damage. One death occurred in the first, caused by a man who experienced "heart problems" after the destruction of his home.
In the South Bay, almost all houses are destroyed and some buildings are not kept secret. The non-destructive structures float away. Many boats and anchored on the canal were "resting in all corners." Some were drowned or deformed, while many houses drifted to the edge of the canal. Roads full of broken blocks. Debris like custard apple tree residues, curved metal roofs, and wood stacked on the bridge. At least 160 deaths occurred in the city, while the American Red Cross showed 247 deaths. Throughout the 1920s, Okeelanta suffered several floods and fires. Eventually, the city was severely flooded during the storm and then abandoned. Bean City is almost destroyed during a storm; only one house remained standing and at least a dozen people were killed. But the city was finally rebuilt by founder Arthur Wells. Sebring Farms is reduced to a pile of rubber, with only four tall palm trees remaining standing. Only six people in the city survived. Hotels in Miami Locks (now known as Lake Harbor) is the only structure to survive the storm. The bodies of many dead animals rested on the banks of the canal. Ninety-nine people were killed in the city. In Chosen, only two people escaped from a sheltered home of nineteen people. At Henry Martin's store, the building lost its roof during the storm, forcing the occupants to move into the restroom. A house full of people drifts about half a mile (0.8 km) from its original location. The residents did not realize that the house was moving until it collided with a train embankment. Twenty-three people died at Chosen.
When the back wall of the eye passes through the area, the flood turns, destroying the embankment along the north shore of the lake and causing similar but smaller floods. Route 98, later known as Conner's Highway, closed until January, when the bridge across the Onosohatchee River at Taylor Creek was replaced after the original bridge was performed about 150 feet (46 m) upstream during the storm. In Okeechobee County, homes along the lake are destroyed by storm surges, while residence within the town of Okeechobee is severely affected or destroyed by winds of at least 90 mph (140 km/h). Nevertheless, houses built of brick and concrete received little damage. A number of three-story business buildings collapsed during a storm. Almost all roads are allowed to pass, while communications are almost destroyed. Overall, 27 deaths occurred in Okeechobee County. Along the southwest coast of Lake Okeechobee, the towns of Clewiston and Moore Haven are both flooded, but much of the house damage due to strong winds. In the former, the railroads were torn and reduced to "bent bands".
Floods continued for several weeks, severely hampering efforts to clean up the destruction. On Oct. 23, more than five weeks after the storm, Florida National Guard Major B. M. Atkinson reported 2Ã, ft (0.61 m) of water along the side of the road leading to Belle Glade, Okeechobee, and South Bay.
Elsewhere
In Fort Myers, property damage is few, limited mainly to a number of small boats and fishing lines along the coast. Cuban Schooner Isabel Alvado sank off the coast of Boca Grande. The crew, who were immigrants, were rescued by Coast Guard and later deported. In Martin County, a bridge connecting Stuart and Palm City was badly damaged and closed to traffic. A temporary ferry service across the St. Lucie was established and operated until bridge repair was completed in the summer of 1929. One death was reported in Stuart. In the 1920s, there were plans to build a Hollywood-esque city featuring a movie studio called Picture City. This plan was canceled after the storm of 1928 and the subsequent economic collapse. Across Martin County, five deaths and about $ 4 million damage occurred, especially for citrus crops. At Fort Pierce, most of the impact is limited to seaside areas. A warehouse, a fish house, a pier, and a bridge across the Indian River were destroyed, while some other buildings were not tidied up. Damages in the city amounted to about $ 150,000.
In the hinterlands of Central and North Florida, the impact is limited to agricultural losses, especially oranges, although wind damage occurs in structures. Between Sebring and Lake Wales, 200 telephone poles were overthrown, while another 60 telephone poles were dropped. In Bartow, windows of business buildings were destroyed and signs collapsed, while some roofs and chimneys were also damaged. One death was reported in Bartow. Winds blowing up to 70 mph (110 km/h) rocked Lakeland. Many fallen trees and some affected buildings, including hospitals and a number of businesses. At Florida Southern College (FSC), the north side of the gym collapses while other buildings on campus break down to lower levels. The trees in the orange groves around the FSC lost much of its fruit. Overall, Lakeland suffered about $ 50,000 in damage. Across Polk County, 10% oranges and about 50% grapefruit are lost, respectively, with most gardens losing 60% to 75% grapefruit.
Nearly all cigar factories in Tampa were closed after wind and rain pushed too much moisture into the building. In St. Petersburg, most of the roof of the car garage is released. Otherwise, the impact is mainly limited to branches of trees that fall into the electrical wires. Along the Gulf Coast of Florida, phone lines are reportedly down as far north as between Brooksville and Dade City. Offshore, tukul fish Wallace A. McDonnell is a beach near Piney Point, although all crew survived. In Orlando, the impact on the property is described as slightly. The storm left one death in Orange City. Mild damage to oranges is reported in Lake and Orange districts. with only about 10% of the plants lost in the former. Winds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) impacted the Jacksonville area, resulting in minor damage in Jacksonville Beach.
Aftermath
Immediately after the storm, cots and blankets were available in churches, courthouses, public buildings, schools, warehouses, and other buildings to be designated as shelter. Gulf Stream Hotel in Lake Worth converted into a hospital. A total of 1,274 people slept in a shelter in West Palm Beach on September 17. With the need for additional cots and blankets, requests for them were sent to the United States Army, which promptly sent 2,000 beds and 1,000 from blankets from Fort McPherson in Georgia to relief centers in Belle Glade, Boynton Beach, Canal Point, Jupiter, Kelsey City, Pahokee, Riviera Beach and West Palm Beach. Many cots and other blankets are then transported to the area. A number of winter residents allowed their homes to be used as shelters.
Dr. W. A. ​​Claxton, head of the Miami Public Welfare Department, is asking for antitoxin, serum typhoid, and at least 200 tetanus serums. The Florida Department of Health granted the request. Of the inoculations were distributed, there were 10,349 for typhoid, 1,025 for smallpox, and 337 for tetanus. A health bulletin issued on 28 September showed that due to vaccinations and other efforts by the state and local health departments, there was "no typhoid, malaria, influenza or other infectious diseases, and we did not anticipate anything." Overall, 210 doctors and 78 nurses worked in the affected areas, each collecting over 50 hours of service.
Many other individuals and organizations contribute to the relief effort. A group of men with trucks were sent north from Miami to clear the trees and other debris from the road. They work fast enough to reach West Palm Beach on the night of September 17th. Early September 18, the train leaving Miami brought 20 doctors and 20 nurses to West Palm Beach. At least 100 people were taken to Miami for medical treatment. In addition to trains, supplies are transported to Palm Beach County by 93 vehicles that make an average of 553 trips per day and 51 trucks recorded an average of 206 trips each day. Thirty-eight motor boats and 4 aircraft also delivered supplies. On September 23, Georgia Governor Lamartine Griffin Hardman offered help to Florida, urging his country to help "in every possible way." On November 18, every Catholic church in the United States contributed part of their offer, with the help of $ 84,200 awarded to Florida and Puerto Rico. Masonic logos throughout the United States collectively donate over $ 107,000.
Colonel E. R. Bradley, one of the richest residents of Palm Beach and owner of a casino in town, donated $ 10,000. J. P. Morgan also gave $ 10,000 to the Red Cross. Candidate governor Doyle E. Carlton donated $ 10,000 on Sept. 20 after observing the damage. A cream in West Palm Beach quickly distributes 1,400 gallons of milk. In Miami, WQAM hosted a telethon on September 22, which also included live entertainment from the band Shriners at the park amphitheater. The event garnered about $ 1,000 for the victims of the storm. The city of Miami also donates 2 chlorine tanks, 20 liters of disinfectant, 24 liters, and 5,000 paper cups. San Francisco city councilor, who suffered a devastating earthquake in 1906, agreed to donate $ 10,000 to South Florida without discussion. Issaquena County, Mississippi, one of the most devastated by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, also contributed money. Although many train stations in south Kelsey City are damaged, the train service is restored on the morning of September 17th. Railway companies provide free tariff for storm victims by October 4, a service used by 1,427 people. After that day, the Red Cross paid for the transportation of the poor.
Looting became a serious problem after the storm, especially in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach. Finally, Police Chief Frank H. Matthews orders a sunset curfew until sunrise unless someone has permission or permission signed by Matthews or his assistant, or if "extreme emergency demands". The Red Cross will also issue admission tickets. Day and night, militia members and personnel of the 124th Infantry Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard patrolled the streets of West Palm Beach. On September 19, Governor Martin summoned all members of the Florida National Guard to serve in other functions as well as patrol against looting. Some luxury homes in Palm Beach were robbed, including very expensive paintings stolen in one house. The military emergency was declared on 19 September, but was canceled the following day. The checkpoints were ordered by Palm Beach County Sheriff Robert C. Baker along major highways in Lake Worth and Jupiter.
On the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee, Dr. Buck takes over. Since there were no operable vehicles, flooded streets, and poor food and water supplies, Buck ordered nearly 100 women and children to walk to West Palm Beach - a distance of 42 mi (68 km) - seen as their best chance to survive. After a few miles, the women and children finally met an ambulance from West Palm Beach. Dr. Buck also delegates fellow American Legion and recruits other volunteers to clear the streets around Lake Okeechobee. On the afternoon of September 20, streets were cleared from Belle Glade to agricultural stations, Chosen, and South Bay. Later, working with members of the Coast Guard of the United States from Fort Lauderdale, the road between Belle Glade and Pahokee was cleared, where debris was piled up as high as 5 feet (1.5 m). Dr. Buck also ordered some men to get into the ice house, which would be a source of fresh water.
Governor John W. Martin, along with Florida Attorney General Fred Henry Davis, chief engineer Fred C. Elliott, and Florida Adj. General Vivian B. Collins, assessed the disaster area in the community along Lake Okeechobee beginning on September 22. After the conclusion of the Tour, Martin telegraphed every mayor in Florida to help the victims of the storm and apologized for not issuing the appeal sooner. Martin also described the scene:
In six miles between Pahokee and Belle Glade I counted twenty-seven bodies in water or on the roadside but not taken from the water. The number of dead on the roadside and not buried and counted but not in coffin board is one hundred twenty-six. In six additional miles more than five hundred and thirty-seven bodies have been buried. Fifty-seven additional bodies were transported out of this area today with trucks and tonight four truckloads of bodies were brought from the adjacent area to the ship, loaded, and shipped to West Palm Beach to be buried. A military officer reported to me that while in Belle Glade today for thirty minutes, ten bodies were brought in and added to a pile of corpses, thirty-seven in one pile and six piles in another pile.
With nearly 3,000 telephone poles broken or broken and 32,000 service interruptions, Southern Bell and AT & T quickly started working to restore phone service, sending workers from their centers in Atlanta and Jacksonville, respectively. The companies deliver about 225 tonnes of copper wire and 20 rail cars full of poles and switchboards. Southern Bell's office in Delray Beach was almost destroyed, causing workers to move the service center to the nearest building. On the morning of September 18, water service is restored in the central part of West Palm Beach and is expected to expand to other areas of the city quickly.
In Palm Beach, about fifty people shovel sand on Ocean Boulevard and cut down damaged palm trees with saws. On September 19, West Palm Beach Mayor Vincent Oaksmith issued a "no work, no food" command, effectively declaring that all capable men should work for relief efforts. Delray Beach City Council issued similar orders. Initially, redevelopment in West Palm Beach was slow. City Manager A. E. Parker issued a public notice stating "Due to the current state of emergency and the great need for shelter, it has not been considered wise to require building permits for the necessary repairs." Many of the heavily damaged buildings were declared a "public threat" and condemned for demolition, effective on October 23. On Sept. 20, the West Palm Beach City Commission held a special session allowing the Town Treasurer to authorize the payment of a previous request of $ 50,000 to the Red Cross. Also on the agenda is a measure of anti-price measurement, which will free individuals up to $ 500 and imprison them for a maximum of 30 days if they sell items above the pre-16 September price.
In the aftermath of a storm on the Florida coast, it became clear that well built buildings with windows practically did not suffer wind damage which caused serious structural problems in the lower buildings. Buildings with well-built frames, and made of steel, concrete, bricks, or stones are mostly immune to the wind, and the use of shutters prevents damage to windows and the interior of the building. Coming on the heels of a Miami 1926 storm where the same pattern has been noticed, one of the eternal results of the 1928 storm was the improvement of building codes.
Red Cross
Many chapters from the Red Cross in Florida take refugees, donate goods and supplies, or otherwise provide relief to storm victims, including the cities of Arcadia, Fort Myers, Haines City, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Sebring, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Winter Haven, and Dade (now Miami-Dade), Indian River, Polk, St. Lucie, and the Volusia district.
At Dade County, the Miami Red Crescent Aid Committee was formed. It provides relief for storm victims by transporting "hundreds of loaves, gallons of milk, coffee and sugar powder, blankets, cots, and medical supplies." The Red Cross, in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture's Expansion Division, provides seeds, fertilizers, feed, and gasoline and oil to farmers who suffer severe losses. Approximately 150 Fordson tractors are disabled by water damage to their ignition or other parts. Ford Motor Company, a tractor manufacturer, sent two part trucks and two mechanical experts from their factory in Jacksonville. In addition, the Agricultural Loan Fund Palm Beach County. After collecting about $ 100,000, farmers qualify for a $ 300 loan with an interest rate of 5%. The Red Cross set up 22 canteen and emergency food centers. On October 28, 10,172 families registered and applied for help with the Red Cross, about two thirds of them living in Palm Beach County.
Many donations to the Red Cross in New York came after New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker and President Calvin Coolidge bought a full-page ad on The New York Times. Overall, individual contributions to the Red Cross make up nearly $ 5.9 million, while the organization itself spends about $ 50,000 on relief efforts. Red Cross expenditure includes approximately $ 121,200 for agricultural supplies and equipment, $ 39,800 for riding and hurricane stables, $ 157,300 for buildings and repairs, $ 137,000 for clothing, $ 66,800 for grants for local branches, $ 115,500 for family assistance and services registration, $ 115,000 for the expensive field, $ 40,000 for food, $ 83,200 for general tools and equipment costs, $ 346,300 for household items, $ 5,000 for junior red cross, $ 71,800 for medical services, $ 60,300 for camps assistance, $ 45,900 for rescue work, $ 11,000 for storm transport victims, and $ 19,900 for miscellaneous expenses.
The Red Cross was criticized for allegedly frugging on the aid given to some people and even racial discrimination. Some big families reportedly received only $ 2. In Delray Beach, a woman who actually lost her home, said she was given only "a few pieces of old clothes and some cans of tomatoes and potted meat and a small can of milk for myself and the children." Grace Campbell, chairman of the work committee, quoted in The Chicago Defender stated that only 20% of the aid is dissolved to African-Americans. A rumor circulated, which even got sympathy from Governor Martin, that a black man named Levi Brown was eating ham in a messy tent and beaten on the head and shoulders with an ax by a Red Cross worker, telling him that "ham is not for niggers." Brown himself admitted that he was actually attacked with a meat cleaver in a restaurant. The alignment claims were disputed by the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Mary McLeod Bethune telegraphed to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Burial cadaver
The highest death toll in economically poor areas in the lowlands around Lake Okeechobee, such as Belle Glade, Chosen, Miami Locks, Pahokee and South Bay. About 75% of casualties are among migrant farm workers, most of whom are African Americans. African American men were ordered at gunpoint to collect bodies. One person was shot for refusing to do so. Despite the Prohibition laws at the time, those who sought and collected bodies were given a ration of pirated whiskey, provided by a local runner-rum. Pioneer Lawrence E. Will stated that "without the stimulatory effect of the whiskey ration, it is doubtful if many will have the stamina to continue." Body collectors are given gloves that are regularly disinfected. They usually tie about half a dozen bodies together with ankles and then put them in a truck. After the truck departs, the men then receive a whiskey ration. This process continues day and night until October, while the corpse search continues until November 1st.
Due to racial segregation at the time, the provided coffins were used for white victims, most of whom received decent burial at the Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach. The bodies of African-Americans who were killed and some of those whose races could not be identified were discarded in other ways. Some were burned in forest burnings, while many were stationed in mass graves, including about 1,600 in Port Mayaca, 674 in the burial of the poor, at least 22 in Miami Locks (now known as Lake Harbor), 28 at Ortona, and 22 at Sebring. There are also unconfirmed reports of corpses in Loxahatchee. After the funeral was over, West Palm Beach Mayor Vincent Oaksmith declared an hour of mourning on October 1 for those who died during the storm. A funeral was hosted by several local pastors and attended by about 3,000 people, including Mary McLeod Bethune educator. A memorial was placed in the Woodlawn Cemetery to commemorate the victims of the storm, but no such markers were placed in the burial of the poor.
Over the next few decades, the African American mass grave site in West Palm Beach was largely forgotten by the public. The city then sold the property, which switched ownership for years. In 1991, the property was owned by a private individual when the Sankofa Society conducted a blessing ceremony at the site, which was well publicized by local media. Around that time, Robert Hazard, a resident of West Palm Beach, founded Storm '28 Memorial Park Coalition Inc. to fight for the recognition of black storm victims. In December 2000, the city of West Palm Beach bought the land back for $ 180,000. The monument construction plan begins. This site is designated as a List of US National Historic Sites and historical markers were added in 2003 during the 75th anniversary of the storm. Injustice has caused racial friction that still exists. The effects of storms on black migrant workers were dramatized in the novel Zora Neale Hurston Their Eyes Are Watching God .
Out of economy
The Florida land boom effectively ended in a typhoon. This region was pushed into the economic turmoil even before Wall Street Crash in 1929 and the early stages of the Great Depression. Potential investors and buyers are skeptical about the purchase of land in the area. As a result, property values ​​drop. In West Palm Beach, for example, real estate costs fell 53% to $ 41.6 million (1930 USD) between 1929 and 1930 and subsequently to only $ 18.2 million (1935 USD) in 1935. Prior to Wall Street Crash 1929, some hotels in the area were declared bankrupt, trying to find new investors, or change names and management.
The arrival of the Mediterranean fruit fly in 1929 also contributed to the almost complete destruction of tourism and oranges in South Florida - two important economic industries in the region. The federal and state governments will spend about $ 7 million (1929 USD) in eradication efforts. There are foreign and domestic bans on imports of fruits and vegetables from Florida. The programs established by the New Deal and the efforts by Florida's governors in the mid- and late-1930s, in particular David Sholtz, provided help with the economic downturn, but the region remained in a bad financial state until the onslaught of American involvement in the War World II.
Due to the deteriorating economic boom and the publicity surrounding corrupt property transactions, the severity of the disaster in Southeast Florida is underestimated. The Tampa Tribune owner Peter O. Knight describes this situation as "trivial". The Tampa Board of Trade sent a telegraph to the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., on September 17, informing them that the damage had been "exaggerated". The Council even considers the protesting news agency that writes "excessive" reports and warns that there will be demand for retraction. Knight was heavily criticized for marginalizing the disaster, with the Red Palm Beach County Chairman Howard Shelby responding by telegraph stating, "If you serve as a spokesman for the whole country, would not you be happy to visit here?", While The Okeechobee News is called Knight "a jackass".
Herbert Hoover Dike
To prevent the recurrence of disasters such as Okeechobee storms and Miami 1926 storms, the Florida Legislature created the Okeechobee Flood Control District during the 1929 session, following recommendations by US Senator Duncan U. Fletcher, among members of other state congress delegates.. The Okeechobee Flood Control District authorized to cooperate with the US Army Engineer Corps in the field of flood control. Proposals on other ways to prevent a repeat of the 1926 and 1928 storms were advanced, including "building a wall down there and keeping the military there" to prevent further settlement in the area or build a dike.
In January 1929, Fred C. Elliott explained during the Congressional hearing that since no state funds were available and state legislation did not permit the construction of embankments, the Congress had petitioned for funding and authorization. Bror G. Dahlberg, Congressman Herbert J. Drane and William J. Sears from Florida's first and fourth congressional districts respectively, Fred Henry Davis, former Congressman Walter F. Lineberger of California, and US Senator Park Trammell of Florida also testified. Drane states that he has been trying since 1924 to bring flood control. After President Herbert Hoover's visit to the area in February 1929, the Corps drafted a new plan provided for the construction of floodways, control gates, and the main embankment along the shore of Lake Okeechobee. Long-term systems are designed for flood control purposes, water conservation, seawater intrusion prevention, and conservation of fish and wildlife populations. Congress approved the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1930, signed into law by President Hoover on 3 July 1930.
After the initial settlement of the embankment, Congress reported in 1943 that the total expenditure reached at least $ 23 million (1943 USD), $ 19 million which was for its original construction. The dikes were extended again after floods during a series of severe storms in the late 1940s, such as the Fort Lauderdale storm of 1947, and the passage of the Flood Control Act of 1948. The embankment was completed in 1961. A ceremony was held in Clewiston on 12 January 1961, former President Herbert Hoover. Since its completion, the embankment almost completely encloses the lake. The only gap is in Fisheating Creek - a mouth located in Glades County near Lakeport - where the dikes veer into the mainland and parallel the river on both sides for several miles, leaving Fisheating Creek as the only free flowing creek left of Lake Okeechobee.
Since at least the 1990s, concerns related to the stability of the embankment have grown in response to research showing long-term problems with "piping" and erosion. Leaks have been reported after some torrential rain events. The proposed solutions to the embankment problem include the construction of seepage settlement on the land side of the embankment, with the first phase costing approximately $ 67 million (2008 USD). Some refurbishment projects take place over the years. Most recently, from 2007 to 2016, the Army Corps of Engineers spent $ 500 million (2016 USD) on repairs, including building a 21 million (34 km) wall of reinforcement inside the embankment. In August 2016, the Army Corps of Engineers proposed a $ 830 million (2016 USD) plan to alter the embankment, today considered one of the United States most at risk of failure.
References
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Jay Barnes (2007). Florida Hurricane History . Universitas North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-3068-0. - Lee Allyn Davis (1 Januari 2009). Bencana Alam . New York City, New York: Penerbitan Infobase. ISBN: 978-1-4381-1878-9.
- Eliot Kleinberg (2003). Black Cloud: The Great Florida Storm tahun 1928 . Carroll & amp; Penerbit Graf. ISBN: 978-0-7867-1146-8.
- Jonathan W. Koontz (1997). Lake Worth: Jewel of the Gold Coast . Lake Worth, Florida: Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce. OCLCÂ 58427553.
- Thomas
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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