100 Years Since the Great Miami Hurricane
The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, which made landfall near Miami Beach on September 18, 1926, remains one of the most devastating natural disasters in Florida's history. Classified retrospectively as a Category 4 hurricane, it caused widespread destruction across South Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Hollywood, before moving into the Gulf of Mexico and making a second U.S. landfall near the Alabama–Florida border. The storm left over 40,000 people homeless, caused $100 million in damages (equivalent to $164 billion today), and resulted in at least 373 deaths, with over 800 people reported missing. The centennial of this event offers an opportunity to reflect on its historical impact and its lessons for disaster preparedness.
