Florida Time: ‘Great Miami Storm’ of ’26 among state’s biggest hurricanes

June 1 marked the start of a season we'd just as soon bypassed Florida.

Florida's recorded history -- since the arrival of Europeans -- dates back 500 years, but most of it has occurred in this century. And along with each major development, a hurricane usually has trailed close behind.

Any map makes it clear why Florida is such a frequent target. Its 1,350-mile coastline accounts for more than one-third of the hurricane strike zone, from Texas' Mexico border to the tip of Maine. The state sticks out into the sea like a sore thumb.

Of the 289 hurricanes to strike the United States from 1851 to 2015, 108 -- more than one-third -- included a Florida landfall. Break down the total of 289 to just the 97 major hurricanes -- with top sustained winds of at least 111 mph -- and 42 of those hit Florida. Of the 42, 18 had a landfall east of Lake Okeechobee and south of Cape Canaveral, the state's most densely populated area.

In one nine-year period, Florida suffered through three of the 20th century's four most significant hurricanes (Andrew was the fourth).

While those storms all hit the south end of the state, they were only the worst of dozens that have devastated parts of Florida from Pensacola to Key West. And even places far from landfall suffered because the state overall paid out for recovery, lost tourism income and took other economic hits, and saw its individual residents suffer higher insurance rates.

A storm doesn't have to hit you to cost you.

We'll visit the four today and in future columns. First: The Great Miami Storm.

If such a hurricane took the same path now, head-on into Miami, it would cause more than twice the damage that Andrew caused. It also might kill more people -- a lot more.

And the storm was the last nail in the coffin for the teetering South Florida land boom.

The Sept. 18, 1926 hurricane still is the most powerful storm to strike Miami proper (Andrew's official landfall was about 20 miles to the south). Its winds averaged 76.2 mph for 24 hours, the longest period on record at the time for any area to experience hurricane-force winds. And never before had officials recorded an Atlantic hurricane with winds higher than 100 mph for more than an hour.

The storm surge sank or drove onto land at least 150 boats and ships. Downtown Miami's waterfront was flooded for two to three blocks inland from Biscayne Bay. Up to 5 feet of water stood in homes, shops and hotel lobbies. The Miami River overflowed.

The greatest killer, though, may have been ignorance. When the eye arrived, thousands of people emerged from shelter, thinking the storm was over. When the second half of the storm arrived, more vicious than the first, scores died.

The Red Cross would later report that 372 people died from the storm and more than 6,000 were injured. The National Weather Service reports that damages were estimated at $105 million, which would equal more than $164 billion in today's dollars.

A coda: after smashing Miami, the storm shot west across the peninsula and drove water out of Lake Okeechobee's southern end and into Moore Haven, then a town of 1,200 protected only by a 6-foot muck berm. As many as 300 died. Governments said if people were to continue to populate the lake, it would need a bigger wall. But they could take their time. It's not like the weather gods would send another storm to the big lake any time soon.

Would they?

Eliot Kleinberg is the author of 10 books about Florida (www.ekfla.com) and a staff writer for the past three decades at The Palm Beach Post, The News-Journal's GateHouse Media partner. Florida Time is a product of GateHouse Media and publishes online in its 22 Florida markets. Submit your questions, comments or memories to [email protected]. Include your full name and hometown. Sorry; no personal replies.

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