A lot of news has been focused on hurricanes lately, and it certainly has caught my attention.
As of August 2023, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center on Thursday upgraded the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season forecast to an above-normal level of activity. For people living in Florida, this is not good news.
Hurricanes are nothing new to Florida. Let’s take a look back almost 100 years.
Devastating 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
The year 1928 saw a particularly devastating Florida hurricane, depicted in Patrick D. Smith’s beloved novel, A Land Remembered.
The 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, also known as the San Felipe Segundo Hurricane, was a powerful and devastating storm that struck Florida and the surrounding areas.
On September 18, the hurricane made landfall near West Palm Beach, Florida, with winds still at Category 4 strength. The storm surge and torrential rains led to catastrophic flooding, particularly in the low-lying areas around Lake Okeechobee. The lake’s dike, which was already weakened by prior storms and inadequate maintenance, failed in multiple locations, releasing a massive wall of water into the surrounding communities.
The flooding was swift and devastating. Entire towns were submerged, homes were destroyed, and
crops were ruined. The death toll in Florida was estimated to be around 2,500 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in the state’s history. Many of the victims were farm laborers and migrant workers who lived in the vulnerable areas around Lake Okeechobee.
Patrick D. Smith’s novel, A Land Remembered, includes a depiction of that hurricane, which is a significant event in the story.
In the novel, the hurricane plays a pivotal role in shaping the lives of the characters and the landscape of Florida. The hurricane’s impact is particularly felt by the MacIvey family, whose struggles and triumphs are chronicled throughout the book.
As the hurricane approaches, the characters prepare for the impending disaster. The atmosphere is tense as the storm builds in strength, and people in the region brace themselves for its arrival. The hurricane’s powerful winds, driving rain, and destructive force are vividly described, evoking a sense of chaos and danger.
The MacIvey family’s homestead and property are directly in the hurricane’s path, and they face the
full fury of the storm. The storm’s winds and flooding caused significant damage to their land, homes, and belongings. Consequently, the family confronts the heart-wrenching aftermath, enduring losses of crops, livestock, structures, and even a loved one.
The hurricane episode in A Land Remembered serves to highlight the harsh realities of life in Florida, where natural disasters like hurricanes are a recurring threat. It also showcases the resilience and determination of the characters as they work to rebuild their lives and land in the wake of such a catastrophic event.
Patrick D. Smith’s portrayal of the hurricane in A Land Remembered captures the visceral impact of the storm on both the environment and the characters.
Please Beware
Florida’s coastal water temperature hit 101.1 degrees in July, the hottest in history. Hotter ocean water temperatures contribute to more intense storms. Hurricane season runs through November 30, 2023.
So, my friends, stay alert this hurricane season. The greatest single lesson of the 1928 storm might be this: while people focus on winds and missiles, and maybe a storm surge from the ocean, the greatest deaths in a Florida hurricane came from freshwater flooding by a large margin. Forecasters say it again and again: It’s not the wind. It’s the water, the water, the water.