September 2nd is the anniversary of one of the worst hurricanes ever to hit the United States. One of three storms at category 5 when they hit the United States, it scoured the Florida Keys. The hurricane produced a fifteen foot tide and waves thirty feet high. At least 400 people were killed. Many of these were highway workers building a link from Miami to Key West, parallel to the railroad. The railroad, which had operated for 23 years, suffered massive damage and never recovered from the hurricane. But Flagler built his bridges well. The viaducts that once supported the railroad now support US highway 1 from Miami to Key West. And to this day, evacuating the Keys during a hurricane is a major concern.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu