Storm of the Century

The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935

Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States
Cover of the book Storm of the Century by Willie Drye, Lyons Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Willie Drye ISBN: 9781493037988
Publisher: Lyons Press Publication: August 1, 2019
Imprint: Lyons Press Language: English
Author: Willie Drye
ISBN: 9781493037988
Publisher: Lyons Press
Publication: August 1, 2019
Imprint: Lyons Press
Language: English

In 1934, hundreds of jobless World War I veterans were sent to the remote Florida Keys to build a highway from Miami to Key West. The Roosevelt Administration was making a genuine effort to help these down-and-out vets, many of whom suffered from what is known today as post-traumatic stress disorder. But the attempt to help them turned into a tragedy. The supervisors in charge of the veterans misunderstood the danger posed by hurricanes in the low-lying Florida Keys. In late August 1935, a small, stealthy tropical storm crossed the Bahamas, causing little damage. When it entered the Straits of Florida, however, it exploded into one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. But US Weather Bureau forecasters could only guess at its exact position, and their calculations were well off the mark. The hurricane that struck the Upper Florida Keys on the evening of September 2, 1935 is still the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the US. Supervisors waited too long to call for an evacuation train from Miami to move the vets out of harm’s way. The train was slammed by the storm surge soon after it reached Islamorada. Only the 160-ton locomotive was left upright on the tracks. About 400 veterans were left unprotected in flimsy work camps. Around 260 of them were killed. This is their story, with newly discovered photos and stories of some of the heroes of the Labor Day 1935 calamity.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In 1934, hundreds of jobless World War I veterans were sent to the remote Florida Keys to build a highway from Miami to Key West. The Roosevelt Administration was making a genuine effort to help these down-and-out vets, many of whom suffered from what is known today as post-traumatic stress disorder. But the attempt to help them turned into a tragedy. The supervisors in charge of the veterans misunderstood the danger posed by hurricanes in the low-lying Florida Keys. In late August 1935, a small, stealthy tropical storm crossed the Bahamas, causing little damage. When it entered the Straits of Florida, however, it exploded into one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. But US Weather Bureau forecasters could only guess at its exact position, and their calculations were well off the mark. The hurricane that struck the Upper Florida Keys on the evening of September 2, 1935 is still the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the US. Supervisors waited too long to call for an evacuation train from Miami to move the vets out of harm’s way. The train was slammed by the storm surge soon after it reached Islamorada. Only the 160-ton locomotive was left upright on the tracks. About 400 veterans were left unprotected in flimsy work camps. Around 260 of them were killed. This is their story, with newly discovered photos and stories of some of the heroes of the Labor Day 1935 calamity.

More books from Lyons Press

Cover of the book Operation Fortitude by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Just Shots by Willie Drye
Cover of the book The Top 100 Military Sites in America by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Confident Coach's Guide to Teaching Lacrosse by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Pro Tactics™: Ice Fishing by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Ask the Old Football Coach by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Bear Attacks of the Century by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Pedometer Walking by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Inga by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Senior Moments by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Good Luck Cat by Willie Drye
Cover of the book In the Shadows of the Morning by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Haunted Baseball by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Lion and the Journalist by Willie Drye
Cover of the book Harder Ground by Willie Drye
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy