1926 — Sep 17–18, Great Miami Hurricane, FL (also Sep 20, FL, AL, MS) –372-408

lornajarrettblanchard September 17, 1926

— 1,200 Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead in [FL]…” 9-20-1928, 1.

— >1,000 Dubois Courier, PA. 9-21-1926, p. 8. (Report from West Palm Beach, Sep 20.)

–408- 1,184 Blanchard tally from sources below.[1]

–373- 1,184 Mykle, Robert. Killer ‘Cane: The Deadly Hurricane of 1928. 2002, p. 88.[2]

–372-<1,172 Florida Div. of Emer. Mgmt. “Great Miami Hurricane of 1926…” 2007.[3]

— <800 Tampa Tribune. “Worst Hurricanes.”

— 325-800 McIver/Sun Sentinel. “1926 Miami: The blow that broke the boom.” 9-23-1993.

— 550-665 Estimated death toll with 374 known.[4]

— < 414 Douglas 1958.[5]

— 372-408 Blanchard chosen range.[6]

— > 408 Pfost. “Reassessing…Impact…Two…Florida Hurricanes.” BAMS, Oct 2003, 1367-1372.[7]

— > 400 The Bee, Danville, VA. “Continue Search for Dead…” 9-22-1926, p. 3.

— 374 Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll…” 9-21-1926, p. 1.

— 373 Mykle, Robert. Killer ‘Cane: The Deadly Hurricane of 1928. 2002, pp. 6 and 88.[8]

— 372 Bedient & Sebastian. “An Introduction to Gulf Coast Severe Storms…” 2012, p. 8.

— 372 Blake, et al. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense US Cyclones…, 2007.

— 372 Ludlum. The American Weather Book, 1982, p. 191.

— 372 NWS WFO Miami. “Memorial Web Page for…1926…Miami Hurricane.” 2006.[9]

— 364 Known dead. UP. “Race Rioting Breaks Out in Hurricane Swept…” Anniston Star, 9-24-1926, p1

— 364 Blanchard tally of low-end of range for specific communities.[10]

— 349 Rappaport 1995.[11]

— 325 AP. “Southern Resorts in Shambles…Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier, PA. 9-21-1926, 1

— 265 Rappaport 1995.

— 264 Rappaport 1995.

— 184-<250 UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.[12]

— 243 Hebert/Jarrell/Mayfield, p. 80; Jarrell et al, 2001;[13] Sav 1974, 8.

Breakouts of Florida death toll by community in “official” Red Cross report (372):

— 3 Coral Gables. Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

–1 Mrs. V. W. McGinnis.

–1 McGinnis youth, 10…

–1 Mrs. Josephine Cochraft, 52…

–10-14 Dania.

–14 AP. “Southern Resorts in Shambles…Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier PA. 9-21-1926, 1.

–11 Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

–10 Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p1.

–2-5 Davie.

–5 AP. “Southern Resorts in Shambles…Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier PA. 9-21-1926, 1

–2 Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

–11-100 Fort Lauderdale.

–100 Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

— 17 Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

— 13 (and another “20 fatally injured).[14]

— 11 Fort Lauderdale (revised list).[15]

— 2 Fort Myers. Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

— 1 Goulds. UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

— 2-3 Hallandale.

–3 UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

–2 Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

–15-54 Hialeah.

–54 Jerry H. Owen, FL East Railway in AP report, Oneonta Star, 9-20-1926.

–26 Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

–15 UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

–19-250 Hollywood.

–250 Jerry H. Owen, FL East Railway in AP report, Oneonta Star, 9-20-1926.

— 75 AP. “Southern Resorts in Shambles…Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier PA. 9-21-1926, 1.

— 70 The Bee, Danville, VA. “400 Killed, 4,000 Hurt, Lists Show.” 9-22-1926, p. 3.

— 39 Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

— 19 UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

— 3 Homestead. Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

— 6 Lake Okeechobee.[16]

— 5 Larkin & South Miami. UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, 1.

–1 Larkin. Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

–804 Miami area. Jerry H. Owen, FL East Railway in Assoc. Press, 9-20-1926 Oneonta Star.

–500 Miami. Jerry H. Owen, FL East Railway in AP report in Oneonta Star, 9-20-1926.

–250 Hollywood. Jerry H. Owen, FL East Railway in AP report, Oneonta Star, 9-20-1926.

— 54 Hialeah. Jerry H. Owen, FL East Railway in AP report, Oneonta Star, 9-20-1926.

–170 Miami area (Miami, 125; Coral Gables, Miami Shores, Little River and Hialeah, 45.).[17]

–96-135 Miami

–135 The Bee, Danville, VA. “400 Killed, 4,000 Hurt, Lists Show.” 9-22-1926, p. 3.

–125 AP. “Southern Resorts in Shambles…Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier PA. 9-21-1926, 1.

–114 Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

–114 UP. “Six deaths in Miami Added to Toll of Storm.” Anniston Star, AL, 9-26-1926, 1.[18]

— 96 UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.[19]

–17-150 Miami Beach.

–150 Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

— 22 The Bee, Danville, VA. “400 Killed, 4,000 Hurt, Lists Show.” 9-22-1926, p. 3.

— 17 Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

— 1 Miami Shores. UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

–140-160 Moore Haven.

–160 UP. “Six deaths in Miami Added to Toll of Storm.” Anniston Star, AL, 9-26-1926, p. 1.[20]

–150 Moore Haven. The Bee, Danville, VA. “400 Killed…Lists Show.” 9-22-1926, p. 3.

— 70 bodies recovered.

— 40 bodies found but not recovered.

–~40 presumably missing/presumed dead; an estimate of 150 total deaths noted.

— 150 Mykle. Killer ‘Cane…, p. 7.[21]

— 150 Moore Haven/Clewiston. Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

— 140 Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, 1.

–>100 UP. “Race Rioting Breaks Out in Hurricane Swept…” Anniston Star, 9-24-1926, p.1.

–1-2 Ojus.

–2 UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

–1 Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

— 1 Parkins. Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.

— 3 Pensacola maritime. The Bee, Danville, VA. “400 Killed…Lists Show.” 9-22-1926, p. 3.[22]

— 3 Perrine. UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

— 1 Pompano. AP. “Southern Resorts in Shambles…Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier PA. 9-21-1926, 1.

— 6 Progresso. AP. “Southern Resorts in Shambles…Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier PA. 9-21-1926, 1.

— 1 Progresso. Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1.

— 5 Rural Dade County. Tyler in Mykle, p. 1368.

— 9 Seaboard Park. UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

— 1 St. Petersburg. UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.

–325 West Palm Beach (and another 40 missing).[23]

Narrative Information

Douglas, September 17 and 18, 1926, Miami: “On the blue, warm seventeenth there was no wind all day stronger than a pleasant nineteen miles per hour. People left work early to get to the Beach for a swim….The Metropolis, the afternoon paper, was on the streets by four o’clock with a streamer that made news of a tropical storm somewhere south by east. People paid no more attention to that than to the Weather Bureau’s storm-warning flags, black with red centers, snapping at the end of municipal blocks. Hurricane warning flags, red with black centers, were not hoisted on the docks until about 11 P.M. but no one noticed them…. Weather Bureau phones were busy sending out the word and asking that it be spread everywhere, that a hurricane was coming. By three o’clock in the morning the wires were down, the lights were out and the black driven water was foaming over the Beach, the bay and up the lowland. The wind streamed across the beaten city at 120 miles an hour…

“All evening and night people had been drowning under the same dark and furious wind as the ocean rose over the causeway, rolling over cars hastening home to Miami Beach. Nine feet of water rioted three and a half miles across the bay and up the low bay front, obliterating docks, streets, buildings, parks, houses. People clung to floating furniture under their own ceilings, or standing on sinks or bookcases held their children and their own heads out of rising water until the same dreadful dawn.

“Inland toward the Everglades, damage was caused by the rains and the infernal wind itself, that screamed and shook the earth with a rumble of constantly approaching freight trains. Trees, light poles, roofs, awnings, shutters, boards, slid along the street or made dams of debris against standing walls. Unreinforced cement-block garages fell in or cars. House walls fell on people…. Steel street-car rails were ripped up and bent double….

“At ten minutes past six, on the morning of the eighteenth, the wind stopped. The sun poured out hot, and hundreds of people, who had not the least idea that the calm center of the hurricane was passing directly over Miami…rushed out in hysterical relief…. At 6:47 A.M. exactly, a gale leaped from the south, a smashing high tide of wind at over 128 miles an hour… Many were killed instantly by blown timbers of the falling of already loosened walls…

“The hurricane moved away to drown people and obliterate the small boom town of Moore Haven on Lake Okeechobee and so northwest to fall with undiminished fury on Pensacola.” (Douglas 1958, pp. 264-266)

“…what Miami learned first of all about hurricanes was that only well-build buildings could withstand them. The city was filled with flimsy buildings, without proper storm bracings and roofs not anchored to walls, that had collapsed. The Miami Building Code was revised then…”

(Douglas 1958, p. 267)

Florida Division of Emergency Management: “Miami – “On September 18, 1926, the Great Miami Hurricane swept across South Florida with estimated winds of 131-155 mph,” reads the opening line of a new historical marker dedicated today at the site of the old U.S. Weather Bureau office in downtown Miami. Officials from the National Weather Service, Florida Emergency Management, and the city of Miami were on hand for the dedication.

“81 years ago today, the powerful Category 4 hurricane roared into downtown Miami with a 15-foot storm surge and winds in excess of 150 mph – the highest sustained wind speeds ever recorded in the United States up to that time. It was also the last time a storm surge completely inundated Miami Beach. A Red Cross report listed the death toll at 372, with more than 800 people listed as missing, and approximately 6,400 people injured by the hurricane….

“In 1926, as the eye of the hurricane passed over downtown Miami, residents and visitors rushed into the streets – thinking the storm had passed. The lull lasted 35 minutes and, during that time, the streets became crowded with people. As a result, many lives were lost during the second phase of the storm.

“The hurricane passed over South Florida, re-entered the Gulf of Mexico, skirted Pensacola causing extensive damage in Escambia Bay and weakened to a Category 3 before making a second landfall near Mobile, Ala. By the time its fury was spent, the 1926 hurricane had caused an estimated $100 million in damages (more than $2 billion in 2007 dollars)….” (FL DEM. “Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 Observed With New Historical Marker.” Tallahassee, FL: DEM, 9-18-2007.)

Ludlum: “The Great Miami Hurricane; center passed over city with pressure at 27.61 in…; wind 123 mi/h…for five minutes, 138 mi/h…for two minutes; tide 11.7 ft…; 372 killed.” (Ludlum 1982, 191)

Mykle: “Early that morning, winds roared in from the northeast across Lake Okeechobee straight at Moore Haven. Four-foot waves topped with angry whitecaps churned across the lake. To the south, the eye of the hurricane moved westward across the Everglades, sucking up water, blowing down trees, and flattening the Sawgrass. As it passed just south of Moore Haven, its winds hit Moore Haven from the north directly off the lake. The wind drove the water against the dike. Part of the dike that had been built over a dead river[24] began to wash away. Dozens of breaks widened, sending black lake water careening down the streets of Moore Haven. People scurried to their roofs. Houses were lifted off their foundations and then thrown against neighbors’ houses, crushing both homes and their occupants….

“Miami lay in ruins. There wasn’t a street that did not have a damaged building. Ocean-going ships lay on land, some a mile from the open sea….

“The official Red Cross report issued October 9, 1926, asserted that 43,000 people were left without homes, 6,381 were injured, and 373 were killed….Only the bodies physically recovered and counted were included in the total. The number of dead, however, was underestimated. The report failed to take into account the 811 people listed as missing and presumed dead, many of whom were unidentified migrant farm laborers who worked on the edge of the Everglades.” (Mykle. Killer ‘Cane: The Deadly Hurricane of 1928. 2002, pp. 87-88.)

Pfost: “….This paper reexamines two historic South Florida hurricanes—in 1926 and 1928—which are frequently cited for their disastrous impacts, but for which the casualty figures are likely too low, thus blunting the message of danger conveyed to current residents. The error is compounded by the frequent use of statistics that imply accuracy. The current fatality figure for the 1926 “Miami” hurricane, for example, is 243. No doubt a specific count of victims (if not several counts, in fact) was made following events such as the 1926 storm, but there may be no attempt to include persons who, because they were not white, or for other reasons, were not counted….in both cases there is much more evidence to indicate the number of fatalities is larger

than what is now the “official” count than there is to show that the official count is accurate…. [p. 1367]

“The exact source of the 243 count is unknown, but probably comes from Mitchell (1926).[25] Charles Mitchell was a U.S. Weather Bureau official who included his account of the storm within a month or two in the Monthly Weather Review, which at that time was a publication of the Weather Bureau. It is, therefore, not surprising that his account would become the source for NWS statistics on the hurricane….

“However, figures from the Red Cross (Hamm 1926;[26] Miami Herald, 10 October 1926; Reardon 1926;[27] Tyler 1926;[28] Will 1990[29]) show 372 dead. This is a very large discrepancy…. [p. 1368]

“The storm effectively ended the South Florida development boom of the 1920s….” [p. 1369]

“Because of the likely inaccuracies associated with the count of nonwhite deaths in 1926, if not other sociological factors, it is possible (but not provable) that the 1926 hurricane even exceeded the death toll of 408 associated with the 1935 category-5 Florida Keys hurricane, which is now ranked as the fifth deadliest….” [p. 1369] (Pfost. “Reassessing the Impact of Two Historical Florida Hurricanes.” BAMS, Oct 2003, pp. 1367-1372.)

Newspapers

Sep 19: “Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 19 (A.P.)–Estimates of the loss of life from the hurricane which swept over lower Florida amounted to well over one thousand late tonight in revised figures from the storm stricken area.

“The casualty list in the Miami section, which bore the brunt of the storm was placed at 804 by Jerry H. Owen, general superintendent of the Florida East Railway. He estimated 500 in Miami, 250 in Hollywood, and 54 in Hialeah, both of the latter places being suburbs of Miami. Other reports placed the dead in Fort Lauderdale at 100 and in the Moore Haven section at 140.

“Additional indications of the appalling toll of the storm were given in a message picked up here by an amateur wireless operator from Sheriff Henry Chase of Dade County, appealing to Governor Martin for help in obtaining 600 coffins. The message was relayed by telegraph to the governor at St. Augustine where he had gone from Tallahassee to expedite the movement of troops and relief to the stricken area….

“With more than 38,000 people homeless and the injured placed at more than 2,000, first efforts were given to reaching the people with food and medical supplies….It was not possible to obtain anything like accurate check of the dead and injured tonight.

“Estimates of dead and injured and homeless compiled at 11 o’clock, central standard time, tonight, from latest reports from all sources:

Miami 500 Dead, 700-800 injured, 38,000 homeless.

Hollywood 250 dead; 1,000-10-000 injured.

Moore Haven and Clewiston, 140, 35-45 women and children drowned.

Miami Beach, 150 dead.

Fort Lauderdale, 100 dead.

Hialeah, 54 dead,

Dania, 11 dead.

Homestead, 3 dead, 1,000 homeless;

Coral Gables, 3 dead;

Hallandale, two dead;

Larkin, one dead;

Ojus, one dead.

“….West Palm Beach, Fla., Sept. 19.–A hurricane which came out of the West Indies swept over the lower east coast of Florida, Friday and Saturday, causing a death list estimated at over 1,200 persons, destroyed property valued at more than $125,000,000 left 38,000 persons homeless, and passed into the Gulf of Mexico….

“One hundred and three of the dead have been accounted for and 43 identified….

(Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead in Florida Storms…” 9-20-1928, p. 1.)

Sep 20: “Miami, Fla., Sept. 20.–(A.P.)–The known dead in Florida’s storm area as a result of Saturday’s hurricane and tidal wave stood tonight at 325, the number of injured estimated at over 4,000…Approximately forty persons were missing. Miami proper had 125 dead and approximately 2,000 injured. Miami suburbs, including Coral Gables, Miami Shores and Little River and Hialeah total 45 dead and the injured was numbered into hundreds. Hollywood, with 75 dead and 600 injured….

“At Dania there had been found fourteen bodies and 140 injured. Virtually every home or business building was wrecked. At Davie five were killed and forty injured.

“Reports were that forty-one dead have been located at Moore Haven and Clewistown, across Lake Okeechobee….Progresso reported six dead and Pompano one….

“Martial law declared Saturday, continued in effect throughout this storm area until late this evening when the restrictions in Miami were modified. None was allowed during the day to enter the stricken area, except upon some mission of relief, or on official business. Hudreds were turned back by the soldiers, despite their pleas that relatives were in the storm area nad had been unheard from….” (Associated Press. “Southern Resorts in Shambles as Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier, PA. 9-21-1926, p. 1.)

Sep 21: “The West Indian hurricane, which Saturday swept lower Florida east Coast, causing known deaths that had mounted to 374…tonight had isolated Pensacola and Mobile and was sweeping towards other Gulf coast points and inland over southern Alabama and Mississippi.

“Pensacola was cut off early today when the wind reached a velocity of 100 miles per hour. This afternoon communication by wire with Mobile was severed with a 100 mile wind reported at 5 p.m….

“The known death list [FL] compiled from all sources was set at 374, with estimates of the final total ranging from 550-665….

“Two Associated Press staff men who reached the east storm area yesterday , today went over the entire area. Tonight they returned to West Palm Beach with reports of 325 deaths, 40 missing, 4,000 injured and 40,000 homeless. They found 125 dead in Miami proper and 45 known dead in the suburbs, Coral Gables, Miami Shores, Little River and Hialeah. Hollywood reported 75 known dead, with estimates of a probable death list of 100 when all debris had been cleared and a check made. From Fort Lauderdale they brought a report of 13 known dead; 20 fatally injured; 503 known injured and 7,000 homeless. Ten bodies and 140 injured were at Dania; 5 dead and 40 hurt at Davie and 1 dead each at Progresso and Pompano. Reports of 52 known dead came from Clewistown and Moorehaven with many more probable at the latter place. Lake Okeechobee reported six known dead and four known injured. The total estimated dead there was placed at seven, and the estimated total injured at four….” (Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1.)

Sep 21: “….Other estimates listed 100 dead at Fort Lauderdale and a similar number at Moorehaven, 75 miles northwest of Miami, where the waters of Lake Okeechobee were shipped over the dikes, flooding the city to a depth of 14 to 15 feet in some places. Forth of those reported drowned were women and children and unconfirmed reports said the road leading to Clewistown was strewn with bodies. Clewistown was believed washed away….

“Looting broke out in…sections of Miami last night. Seven suspects were arrested. Three hundred special policemen were sworn in for voluntary duty and martial law was ordered….” (Dubois Courier, PA. “500 Dead in Miami.” 9-21-1926, p. 8.)

Sep 22: “….Several ships went ashore [paragraph on Pensacola and Mobile]. There were three deaths in that section due to drowning but none in Pensacola.

“At Moorehaven, an agricultural city on the western bank of Lake Okeechobee, martial law went into effect today and an effort was being made to check up the death list, already known to be around 100. Approximately 70 bodies had been recovered up to last night and it was said that forty others had been found and would be recovered today. Estimates still put the deaths here at 150 or more….” (The Bee, Danville, VA. “400 Killed, 4,000 Hurt, Lists Show.” 9-22-1926, p. 3.)

Sep 23: “Alfred P. Reck/United Press Staff Correspondent. Miami, Fla., Sept. 23.–As official check of the dead progressed in south Florida’s storm area today it was believed not more than 250 fatuities occurred, Col. T. B. Collins, personal representative of Governor Martin said. Official count in all areas except Moorehaven and its environs showed 184 killed….

“All negroes have been put to work by authorities in clearing away debris….

“The official tabulation of the dead as announced by the governor’s representative was:

Greater Miami 96;

Hollywood 19;

Fort Lauderdale 13;

Dania 10;

Hallandale 3;

Ojus 2;

Seaboard Park 9;

Miami Shores 1;

Davie 5;

Larkin and South Miami 5;

Black Point 1;

Hialeah 15;

Perrine 3;

Goulds 1;

St. Petersburg 1.

“….Because of the high waters and the lack of boats of a design capable of being used in the ‘Glades, this section containing approximately 300 families has been left untouched. No word has been received except from persons living directly on the trail [Tamiami] and within ten miles of Miami. Nothing has come of the Chevetier, a village about 60 miles west of here, which had a population of approximately 200 persons. Near by is the Seminole Indian reservation of approximately 200 from which no word had been received since the hurricane. Water is still four feet deep in many sections directly off the trail. At the height of the storm it is estimated in many places the water rose to eight feet….

“Davie, a village of 200 population located west of Fort Lauderdale in the Everglades, has been evacuated….” (UPI. “Death Toll of Storm Shown 184.” The Anniston Star, AL, 9-23-1926, p. 1.)

Sep 24: “Miami, Fla., Sept. 24.–(United Press)–Race rioting broke out in devastated Miami today. Two marines who caught a pair of negroes in the act of looting a store in the colored section of the city were wounded and only the arrival of sixty police officers with riot guns, 25 deputy sheriffs and two companies of state troopers prevented more casualties. The armed forces rushed to the negro district, ordered all on the streets into houses and posted guards at every corner. J.D. Allen and E.L. Melbourne, marines from the Key West base on relief duty here, were seriously wounded. The negro looters also were shot….” (UP. “Race Rioting Breaks Out in Hurricane Swept City in Florida; Four are Hurt.” Anniston Star, AL, 9-24-1926, p. 1.)

Sep 24: “Miami, Fla., Sept. 24.–(United Press)–While Miami and surrounding towns in the area devastated by the West Indian hurricane entered upon their seventh day of rehabilitation, physicians and surgeons concentrated their efforts today to prevent an outbreak of pestilence. Typhoid and tetanus serum is being rushed to the storm-stricken area by boat, airplane and train. So far only a few isolated cases of disease have been reported but the badly disrupted sanitation system presents an ominous threat, physicians declare.

“Whole evacuations of towns in the Everglades is under way. State troopers ordered those who had survived the hurricane at Moorehaven to depart immediately as badly decomposed bodies of victims increased the dangers of epidemic.” (UP. “Medical Men Work to Keep Off Disease.” Anniston Star, AL, 9-24-1926, p. 1.)

Sep 25: “Miami, Fla, Sept. 25.–(United Press)–Six deaths from injuries and exposure today brought the hurricane toll for the Greater Miami district to 114. The latest official tabulation of missing numbers 235. Only one house is standing on Moorehaven and this has been converted into a relief station where the primitive scenes of front line dressing stations of war times are being re-enacted. Flood waters are hampering relief work and the decomposition of bodies has brought a serious threat of epidemic. The Moorehaven district is practically depopulated. The Moorehaven district is practically depopulated. Residents have been ordered out by the military and the entire county is under martial law.

“Official estimates of dead in the Bahama Islands is 35. Twelve are known to have perished when the hurricane swept along Long Key[30] and seven lives were lost at Bimini [Bahamas]

(United Press. “Six deaths in Miami Added to Toll of Storm.” Anniston Star, AL, 9-26-1926, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Southern Resorts in Shambles as Result of Storm.” Dubois Courier, PA. 9-21-1926, p. 1. Accessed 11-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubois-courier-sep-21-1926-p-1/

Bedient, Philip B. and Antonia Sebastian. “An Introduction to Gulf Coast Severe Storms and Hurricanes,” pp. 1-15 in: Bedient, Philip B. (Ed.) Lessons From Hurricane Ike. Texas A&M University Press, 2012. Google preview accessed 11-16-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=gelBBDRUjCcC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Blake, Eric S., Edward N. Rappaport, and Christopher W. Landsea. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Cyclones From 1851 to 2006. Miami, FL: National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, April 15, 2007 update, 45 pages. Accessed at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/Deadliest_Costliest.shtml

Douglas, Marjory Stoneman. Hurricane. New York: Rinehart & Company, Inc., 1958, 393 pp.

Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1. Accessed 11-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubois-courier-sep-21-1926-p-1/

Dubois Courier, PA. “500 Dead in Miami.” 9-21-1926, p. 8. Accessed 11-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubois-courier-sep-21-1926-p-8/

Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 Observed With New Historical Marker.” Tallahassee, FL: DEM, 9-18-2007. Accessed 11-16-2017 at: http://www.floridadisaster.org/eoc/eoc_activations/Press06/Reports/1926_Storm_annv.pdf

Hebert, Paul J., J.D. Jarrell, Max Mayfield. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Hurricanes of This Century (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS-NHC-31). Miami, FL:

Jarrell, Jerry D., Max Mayfield, Edward N. Rappaport, Christopher W. Landsea. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Hurricanes From 1900 to 2000 (And Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-1). Miami, FL: NOAA NWS and Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, October 2001 Update. Accessed at: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/deadly/index.html

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

McIver, Stuart. “1926 Miami: The Blow that Broke the Boom.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 9-19-1993. Accessed 11-16-2017 at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1926-hurricane,0,5204136.story

Mykle, Robert. Killer ‘Cane: The Deadly Hurricane of 1928. New York: Cooper Square Press, 2002.

National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Feb 1993, 41 pages.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Miami, FL. Memorial Web Page for the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane. NWS, NOAA, DOC, October 2, 2006 modification. Accessed at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/Miami_hurricane.html

Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “1,200 Persons Reported Dead in Florida Storms…” 9-20-1928, p. 1. Accessed 11-17-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oneonta-daily-star-sep-20-1926-p-1/

Pfost, Russell L. “Reassessing the Impact of Two Historical Florida Hurricanes.” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Oct 2003, pp. 1367-1372. Accessed 11-16-2017 at: http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/BAMS-84-10-1367

Rappaport, Edward N. and Jose Fernandez-Partagas. The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1994 (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-47). Coral Gables, FL: National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, January 1995, 42 pages. Accessed 8-20-2017 at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-NHC-1995-47.pdf

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[1] We choose for the low range the figure of more than 408 deaths speculated to have been lost, noted by Pfost in his “Reassessment.” The high-end of the range is from Mykle, which adds 373 recovered bodies figure from a Red Cross report, to his notation of 811 “missing and presumed dead.”

[2] See Mykle narrative below where he notes an official Red Cross report of 373 recovered bodies which excluded 811 “missing and presumed dead.” Adding the two numbers we derive 1,184.

[3] “A Red Cross report listed the death toll at 372, with more than 800 people listed as missing, and approximately 6,400 people injured by the hurricane.” Adding 372 and the speculative “more than 800” gives 1,172.

[4] Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1.

[5] Douglas writes of 114 dead in Miami and “drowned more than three hundred Moore Haven people.” [Lake Okeechobee] (Douglas 1958, pp. 266 and 268)

[6] Use as low-end the figure of 372 noted in many NWS reports. Use as high end Pfost (also NWS) estimate that loss of life was probably greater than 408 killed in the 1935 Florida Keys hurricane.

[7] Makes arguments as to why “official” figure of 372 deaths is an underestimate and speculates it was probably larger than the death toll of 408 in the 1938 Florida Keys hurricane.

[8] “A powerful category 4 Cape Verde Island hurricane packing 130-mile-an-hour winds, struck Miami head-on, killing 373 people and leveling three-fourths of the city….” This figure, however, appears to refer to state total.

[9] The NWS Miami Weather Forecast Office cites the American Red Cross estimate shortly after the hurricane.

[10] We exclude West Palm Beach given a single (and very large death toll) report. We use 140 for Moore Haven.

[11] Includes 106 deaths prior to U.S. landfall. (Pfost 2003)

[12] The figure of 184 is an actual count of bodies, excluding Moore Haven.

[13] Pfost (NWS) note on this official NWS statistic: “The current fatality figure for the 1926 “Miami” hurricane, for example, is 243. No doubt a specific count of victims (if not several counts, in fact) was made following events such as the 1926 storm, but there may be no attempt to include persons who, because they were not white, or for other reasons, were not counted….an exact count of the dead for both the 1926 and 1928 hurricanes was not possible. The margin of uncertainty is much larger for the 1928 storm, but in both cases there is much more evidence to indicate the number of fatalities is larger than what is now the “official” count than there is to show that the official count is accurate.” (p. 1367) Goes on to note that “The exact source of the 243 count is unknown, but probably comes from Mitchell (1926).” (p. 1368)

[14] Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1.

[15] The Bee, Danville, VA. “400 Killed, 4,000 Hurt, Lists Show.” 9-22-1926, p. 3.

[16] Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1.

[17] Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1.

[18] “Miami, Fla, Sept. 25.–(United Press)–Six deaths from injuries and exposure today brought the hurricane toll for the Greater Miami district to 114. The latest official tabulation of missing numbers 235.”

[19] Later notes “Miami has buried nearly 100 hurricane victims and the ruins are being combed for other bodies.”

[20] “The surplus of physicians and nurses in the Miami district have been rushed there [Moore Haven district], where 160 are known to have died in the hurricane and subsequent flood waters.”

[21] “Belle Glade had come through the Miami hurricane, which had passed it to the south with little damage. Whereas Moore Haven had lost 150 lives when that town’s muck dike collapsed…”

[22] From several ships which went ashore.

[23] Dubois Courier, PA. “374 Dead is Latest Estimate of Toll Taken by Storm.” 9-21-1926, p. 1.

[24] “River” that diminished and eventually dead-ended away from the lake.

[25] C.L. Mitchell. “The West Indian Hurricane of September 14-22.” Monthly Weather Review, V54, 409-414, 1926.

[26] H. H. Hamm. 101 Views of the South Florida Hurricane, September 17-18, 1926. Schwartz News Co., 1926.

[27] L.F. Reardon. The Florida Hurricane and Disaster. 1926, Lion and Thorne Publishers reprint, 1986, 112 pages.

[28] L.L. Tyler. A Pictorial History of th Florida Hurricane, September 18, 1926. Tyler Publishing Co., 1926, 32 pp.

[29] L.E. Will. Okeechobee Hurricane and the Hoover Dike (3^rd. edition). Glades Historical Society, 1990, 204 pages.

[30] Given the context of the Bahama Islands, this is probably a reference to Long Cay island in Bahamas.