Florida's Hurricane History

The Sunshine State has an exceptionally stormy past. Vulnerable to storms that arise in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, Florida has been hit by far more hurricanes than any other state.

Florida has been hit by far more hurricanes than any other state. In this updated edition of Florida's Hurricane History, Barnes draws on meteorological research, news reports, first-person accounts, maps, and historical photographs to trace all of the notable hurricanes that have affected the state over the last four-and-a-half centuries, from the early colonial period to the devastating hurricanes of 2004 and 2005—Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Katrina, and Wilma. Illustrated with more than 200 photographs and maps, the book is filled with fascinating stories of tragedy and survival.

Library Journal

Florida's 1300-mile coastline is both a blessing and a curse; each summer it brings pleasure to millions of beach visitors but trepidation to insurance companies and disaster-preparedness officers. This fascinating and disturbing account of punishing encounters with hurricanes--which hit Florida more frequently than any other state--covers four and a half centuries of Florida history. Barnes (North Carolina's Hurricane History, Univ. of North Carolina, 1995) begins by explaining the meteorology of hurricanes, the development of tracking and forecasting, and the tradition of naming individual storms. The bulk of his narrative, however, details the history and impact of more than 100 major storms. Heavily illustrated, the book bears graphic witness to the havoc wreaked by winds topping 200 miles per hour and storm surges reaching 20 feet above sea level. John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall's Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms (Univ. of Florida, 1997) is similar but considerably less detailed, while Roger A. Pielke Sr.'s Hurricanes: Their Natures and Impacts on Society (Wiley, 1997) is directed toward specialists. Essential for meteorology collections and all Florida libraries; recommended for scholars and general readers nationwide.--Kathleen Arsenault, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.

Jay Barnes is director of the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. His previous books include North Carolina's Hurricane History and Faces from the Flood: Hurricane Floyd Remembered (both from the University of North Carolina Press). For more information visit http://uncpress.unc.edu/hurricanes/.