WeatherHurricane

Actions

90th anniversary of 'Okeechobee Hurricane'

Posted at 5:19 PM, Sep 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-16 15:08:38-04

Sunday marks 90 years since a storm slammed into the Glades and Lake Okeechobee overflowed, killing thousands of people.

Residents of the Glades can't forget the storm and the awareness the Okeechobee Hurricane should bring even today.

Milton Carpenter's mother, Ruth, was pregnant with him when the storm hit in 1928. Carpenter was born shortly after the storm hit the area.

Ruth wrote an article about the hurricane after it devastated the region.

"Noise became so deafening. Most destructive hurricane in Florida," Milton read his mother's article.

He then read this line: "Fear of losing the little one close to my heart. She's talking about myself," said Milton.

He says thousands of homes collapsed. His grandfather's home did not.

"That house was on a solid foundation," said Milton.

He says that's why he's alive today.

"Exactly. I have been blessed my whole life."

Many in the Glades say this should bring awareness.

"Make sure that we don't have this type of devastation again," said Tammy Jackson-Moore with Guardians of the Glades.

She says it's important to keep lake levels down and to repair an aging dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee.

"High lake levels right now during hurricane season. That is something we're concerned about," said Jackson-Moore.

The dike is expected to be repaired by 2022.

WPTV First Alert Weather Spotters Sponsored By: Manatee Lagoon

About WPTV NewsChannel 5

Join WPTV First Alert Weather Spotters team

Jonathan Diego
4:35 PM, Jul 06, 2022
wptv-surf-forecast.jpg

Surfing Blog

Surf Forecast: Swell Fades, New Pulse Friday

James Wieland
8:53 AM, Oct 09, 2019

WATCH 2023 WPTV FIRST ALERT WEATHER SPECIAL

2023 WPTV First Alert Weather Special

2023 STORM NAMES

Arlene

Bret

Cindy

Don

Emily

Franklin

Gert

Harold

Idalia

Jose

Katia

Lee

Margot

Nigel

Ophelia

Phillipe

Rina

Sean

Tammy

Vince

Whitney

TERMS TO KNOW

TROPICAL STORM WATCH: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible within the specified coastal area within 48 hours.

TROPICAL STORM WARNING: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected within the specified coastal area within 36 hours.

HURRICANE WATCH: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible somewhere within the specified coastal area. A hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

HURRICANE WARNING: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area. A hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.