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Many of the worst hurricanes in history to hit the Florida coastline have done so in September.
According to the National Hurricane Center, September is the peak month of storm season, with storms historically increasing in frequency until a peak on September 10. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that an average September will host at least four severe storms, with up to eight occurring during the span of the month.
Florida is affected heavily by Atlantic basin storms, which often come up from the southeast and barrel into the unprotected peninsula. Hurricanes from early in the last century claimed many more lives than those of this century as modern communication and transportation methods allow for evacuation.
Olympus supports Floridians by providing access to severe weather alerts via the Weather Underground.
The “Great Miami” hurricane devastated the Greater Miami area in September 1926. The destruction caused across the state represented an early start to the Great Depression for Floridians. The cyclone caused immense damage across southern Florida, precipitating a storm surge which breached the dykes just outside of Okeechobee.
Just two years later in September 1928 the Okeechobee hurricane, also known as the San Felipe Segundo hurricane, became one of the deadliest hurricanes in the recorded history of the North Atlantic basin. It made landfall near West Palm Beach, Florida, and the storm surge around Lake Okeechobee flooded hundreds of square miles as high as 20 feet above ground, sweeping away homes in Belle Glade, Canal Point, Chosen, Pahokee, and South Bay. The storm system caused $100 million in damage.
In September 1935, the Labor Day Hurricane became the most intense hurricane to make landfall in the United States on record and remained the most intense Atlantic hurricane until Hurricane Gilbert. It struck Long Key, then moved northwest along the Florida west coast, to make a second landfall near Cedar Key. Storm surge of 18-20 feet in height engulfed the low lying islands of the upper Florida Keys, destroying nearly all the structures between Tavernier and Marathon and obliterating the town of Islamorada.
In early September 2004, Hurricane Frances hammered the coastline around Sewall’s Point, Florida, before swinging across the state to make a second landfall near St. Marks. Just over a week later, Hurricane Ivan hit Pensacola, Florida, leveling Perdido Key. Ivan looped around to regenerate into a tropical cyclone, dropping extreme rain across the Southeastern United States and spawning nearly 120 tornadoes, which caused significant damage in Florida and cost over $20 billion in damages. A few days later, Hurricane Jeanne slammed into the coast just 2 miles away from the former devastation brought by Frances, and flooding across the state hit record highs.
2005 brought Katrina in August and Wilma in October, but after that the Sunshine State had a record 11 years without a single hurricane making landfall. This streak was finally broken by the relatively mild Hurricane Hermione on September 1, 2016. Hurricane Matthew’s eye just missed Cape Canaveral in October of the same year, going on to cause massive destruction in the Carolinas.
The most recent severe hurricane to make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Irma, which left destruction in its wake as it charged towards the Florida coastline in early September 2017. Irma made landfall on the Florida coast on Cudjoe Key, and came ashore again on Marco Island, causing heavy rains, strong winds, and record breaking storm surge all the way to Jacksonville, Florida. Irma cost over $50 billion in damages, and devastated the Florida Keys, with 25% of buildings completely destroyed and 65% significantly damaged.
Hopefully, September 2018 will not see another massive hurricane make landfall in Florida. You can prepare for September storms with hurricane preparedness tips from Olympus to help you navigate potential weather events.
Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, FL and founded in 2007, Olympus Insurance Company specializes in Florida property insurance. Through its independent agency force, Olympus insures $40 billion worth of residential and investment property including homes, condos, rental property, and valuable personal property, with umbrella coverage and Spartan Enhanced Coverage available. Coverage for individual risks up to $5 million in total insured value is provided on one of the most comprehensive coverage forms in the industry.
For more information, visit olympusinsurance.com.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not form a part of, replace, change or amend any terms, conditions, provisions or language within your Olympus Insurance policy. We encourage you to read your entire policy.