The ruins of Hurricane Camille (1969), which hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 5 hurricane and were still a powerful punch when it reached Richmond, Va., where this photo was taken.
Universal Image Group / Getty Images
hide captions
switch captions
Universal Image Group / Getty Images
The ruins of Hurricane Camille (1969), which hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 5 hurricane and were still a powerful punch when it reached Richmond, Va., where this photo was taken.
Universal Image Group / Getty Images
Hurricane Ian, which is currently making landfall on Florida’s Gulf coast, is on the cusp of a scale used by meteorologists to measure hurricane strength. If its winds pick up a bit, before it reaches shore, Ian could become the fifth most destructive Category 5 hurricane on record to make landfall in the continental United States.
Four previous Category 5 hurricanes (maximum sustained winds of 157 mph or more as measured in Saffir-Simpson scale) attacks on the US have landed on the Gulf Coast – three in Florida and one in Mississippi.
NOAA illustrates the Saffir-Simpson scale
NOAA / CEMA
hide captions
switch captions
NOAA / CEMA
NOAA illustrates the Saffir-Simpson scale
NOAA / CEMA
The National Hurricane Center describes a Category 5 storm like this: “Crazy damage will occur: A large proportion of frame houses will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most areas will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”
Although Category 5 hurricanes are by definition the strongest, hurricanes like Katrina, which made landfall near New Orleans with a Category 3 in 2005 and Maria, which made landfall in Puerto Rico with a Category 4 in 2017, typically have more destructive power. loss of life and financial impact.
Here, we look back at 4 hurricanes that have made landfall in the United States as Category 5.
Labor Day Storm 1935
Fallen trees are scattered across Long Key, Fla., following the 1935 Labor Day hurricane – the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the United States.
AP
hide captions
switch captions
AP
Fallen trees are scattered across Long Key, Fla., following the 1935 Labor Day hurricane – the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the United States.
AP
1935 Labor day storm Considered the strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall in the United States, making landfall in the Florida Keys on September 2, 1935, with winds of 185 mph. It killed about 409 people. Although it made its way to the East Coast of the United States, “in fact, all of the damage caused by the hurricane was suffered in Florida, most of it in the Florida Keys. An area of 40 destruction. [miles] occurs throughout the Keys, from just south of Key Largo to just north of Marathon. Follow Storms: Science and Societya website operated by the University of Rhode Island’s College of Oceanography.
Hurricane Camille (1969)
A fishing boat was brought ashore by Hurricane Camille in Biloxi, Miss., in 1969.
HUM Image / Universal Image Group / Getty Images
hide captions
switch captions
HUM Image / Universal Image Group / Getty Images
A fishing boat was brought ashore by Hurricane Camille in Biloxi, Miss., in 1969.
HUM Image / Universal Image Group / Getty Images
Typhoon Camille, the second strongest hurricane on record to hit the continental United States, sustained winds of more than 170 mph when it made landfall in Mississippi late in the evening of August 17, 1969. More than 250 people were killed, many many in Virginia due to the major flooding that the storm brought to that state. Camille sailed north-northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, becoming Level 5 the day before landing.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) speak: “The effects of Hurricane Camille were felt over much of the southeastern United States, particularly southeastern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama. Most damage inland was due to fallen trees and power lines, while nearby shoreline damage was caused by wind and high tides Communities saw homes and buildings damaged or destroyed, fallen trees and flooded roads In addition, crops in Mississippi and Alabama was severely affected – peach and pecans were completely destroyed, and more than 20,000 acres of corn were flattened.The majority of crop damage – about 90% – was due to high winds while only 10% due to heavy rain.”
Hurricane Andrew (1992)
A South Miami, Fla., resident made a call from one of the few working phones in the area when another man was waiting for his turn amid the rubble of a business destroyed on the day August 25, 1992, after Hurricane Andrew made landfall.
Andrew Itkoff / AFP / Getty Images
hide captions
switch captions
Andrew Itkoff / AFP / Getty Images
A South Miami, Fla., resident made a call from one of the few working phones in the area when another man was waiting for his turn amid the rubble of a business that was demolished earlier in the day. August 25, 1992, after Hurricane Andrew made landfall.
Andrew Itkoff / AFP / Getty Images
On August 24, 1992, Andrew made landfall in South Miami-Dade County with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. Although 23 deaths were attributed directly to the storm, “Hurricane Andrew destroyed more than 50,000 homes and caused an estimated $26 billion in damage, making it the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history.” , unsurpassed until Hurricane Katrina 13 Years later,” NOAA said.
Hurricane Michael (2018)
The Cooter Stew Cafe collects water as Hurricane Michael pushes a storm surge over the Wakulla and Saint Marks rivers, which gather here in Saint Marks, Fla., on October 10, 2018.
Image of Mark Wallheiser / Getty
hide captions
switch captions
Image of Mark Wallheiser / Getty
The Cooter Stew Cafe collects water as Hurricane Michael pushes a storm surge over the Wakulla and Saint Marks rivers, which gather here in Saint Marks, Fla., on October 10, 2018.
Image of Mark Wallheiser / Getty
Hurricane Michael made landfall on the Florida Panhandle on October 10, 2018, as a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 161 mph. The National Weather Service said, “Winds and high tides have caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach areas. Eight direct deaths have been reported: seven in Florida and one person in Georgia. In addition, 43 deaths were indirectly attributed to the storm.”
