6 Hurricanes in South Florida That Left a Devastating Impact
If you’ve lived in South Florida long enough, you’ve experienced a hurricane or two.
South Florida has tropical storms and hurricanes approximately every 2 to 3 years. But this is an average and periods can have higher or lower hurricane intensity.
In contrast, Miami experiences hurricanes approximately once every 5 years. And though some hurricanes don’t always make landfall in Miami, the city can still feel the impact of storms that pass through South Florida.
Let’s look at 7 hurricanes that have had a lasting impact on South Florida and Miami.
1926 Miami Hurricane
Category 4
The Miami Hurricane of 1926 made landfall with 150 mph winds. And a storm surge that flooded the downtown area. This hurricane caused extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure, and crops. And there was a significant loss of life.
But it’s also brought around changes to building codes and hurricane preparedness in South Florida.
1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
Category 4
The 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane had a catastrophic impact on the Lake Okeechobee region in South Florida. The hurricane caused a dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee to fail, creating massive flooding and loss of life.
1935 Labor Day Hurricane
Category 5
The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys and areas near Miami. It’s considered the most intense hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. And the first Category 5 recorded in U.S. history.
With winds up to 185 mph, the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane caused a large loss of life and devastating damage. The damage spread from the Florida Keys to the Overseas Highway and Florida East Coast Railway. This hurricane brought around improvements in hurricane forecasting and communication systems.
1992 Hurricane Andrew
Category 5
Hurricane Andrew is one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history. Making landfall south of Miami, Hurricane Andrew caused extensive damage throughout the county. Winds exceeding 165 mph demolished buildings, uprooted trees, and caused billions of dollars in property damage.
Hurricane Andrew brought about significant improvements to building codes and emergency response systems.
2005 Wilma Hurricane
Category 3
The 2005 hurricane season was an active and devastating season. Hurricane Katrina and Rita made landfall that year, mostly affecting the Gulf Coast. But Hurricane Wilma made landfall in South Florida.
Hurricane Wilma brought heavy rains, strong winds, and storm surges throughout South Florida. Many areas experienced widespread flooding, power outages, and property damage. Wilma was the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin in 2005 and led to significant restoration in Miami.
2017 Hurricane Irma
Category 4
The eye of Hurricane Irma passed to the west of Miami. But the city felt Hurricane Irma’s strong wind, heavy rains, and storm surge. It also prompted one of the largest evacuations in Miami’s history – emphasizing the importance of hurricane preparedness.
Living in South Florida means you have to prepare for a hurricane!
Protect your family and your property by being ready for when the next hurricane hits South Florida or the Miami area.
To help, we have several resources to get you started. Check out these 3 blogs to learn more about hurricane preparedness:
When you’re ready to have your roof inspected to get ready for hurricane season, let us know. Because M3 Roofing is ready to help!
Send us a message or call the office – (305) 265-5000 – to set up a roof inspection today!
We service homes throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County.