History of Worst Hurricanes and Storm Damage in Palm Beach County

3/5/2019 (Permalink)

Storm Damage in Palm Beach County 

Florida residents have experienced tornadoes, flooding, tropical storms and hurricanes with more storms hitting the state than any other. As all of Florida, especially South Florida has been affected by a hurricane or major storm, no area is immune to storm damage.

Some Floridians have experienced a storm shutter or two missing, even storm water flooding their homes. With each hurricane season, comes an array of surprises, some worse than others. Let’s take a look at some of the worst hurricanes and the damage they have caused over the years.

1928: Okeechobee Hurricane 

This hurricane was one of the most devastating hurricanes recorded for Palm Beach. This storm made landfall with winds of up to 145 mph, destroying over one thousand homes. Many people were affected greatly by this storm, sadly losing their lives, along with millions of dollars in structural damage.

This hurricane, subsequent to the Miami Hurricane of 1926, proved to officials that buildings that were properly built and secured remained intact while those not made of steel or concrete were severely damaged. While the aftermath of Okeechobee Hurricane or the San Felipe Segundo Hurricane was vast and costly, it did bring a positive effect on building codes.

1947: Fort Lauderdale Hurricane

1947 brought two major hurricanes and various tropical storms causing significant devastation. In September 1947, a Category 4 Hurricane caused storm surge of up to 22 feet near Lake Okeechobee and 11 feet by Palm Beach and Boynton Beach.  Many houses and buildings on the east coast were hit hard by waves and flooding, forcing many residents to flee their homes or seek higher ground. Structures abiding by improved codes fared well, while other older buildings were impacted with no hope of rebuilding.  

One of the final hurricanes for that season, dropped inches of rain on South Florida, causing major flooding in the Miami-Dade county. This hurricane was one of the first that experienced government involvement, with attempts to drop dry ice to weaken the storm. These attempts were unsuccessful. The flooding from this hurricane was the worst recorded in South Florida so far with over eight feet of water in some areas and many houses nearly submerged.

1979: Hurricane David

Hurricane David was one of the next major hurricanes after about 20 years of relatively quiet seasons. Following the losses in the 1940s, David hit Florida as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing only two to four feet of storm surge along with it. Damages from this hurricane were minimal, with crop damage accounting for the majority of millions Palm Beach County lost. Even so, some resident’s failed to prepare, allowing blown in windows and torn roofs.

1999: Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene was one of the first hurricanes to remind South Florida residents of the 1940s. Rain of over 17 inches generating over $600 million in flooding and agricultural damage. Four tornadoes tore their way through Broward and Palm Beach County producing more damage and casualties. 

2005: Hurricane Wilma

Hurricane Wilma was one of the strongest hurricanes seen so far, resulting in over 6 million Floridians without power, even though it hit Palm Beach County as a Category 2 hurricane. Lights and power lines scattered the streets, roofs were torn off and a mandated curfew of 9 p.m was put into place as the amassed $20.6 billion destruction of Wilma plagued South Florida.

2017: Hurricane Irma

After years of quieter hurricane seasons, sprinkled with a few tropical storms in between, Florida experienced Hurricane Irma. Prior to Irma, a Category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Hermine had made landfall the year prior causing river swelling. Irma proved to be a much stronger storm in terms of windspeed and pressure. Irma left behind over $50 billion in damage, higher than that of Wilma. Over 6.5 million Floridians were ordered to evacuate and the state saw just that exact record-breaking number of evacuees. Many homes and business were damages with more than 24,00 homes experiencing some form of damage.

No matter the expected intensity of an upcoming hurricane season, it is imperative that Palm Beach County residents prepare themselves for worst-case scenarios. Always ensure your home or business has a contingency plan for before and after a storm.

If your home experiences storm damage inflicted by a major hurricane or tropical storm, be sure to call the professionals of SERVPRO of West Palm Beach to help with any flooding, leaks, water or mold damage.