HISTORY

Hurricane:  A name given primarily to the violent wind storms of the West Indies, which are cyclones in diameter of from 50 to 100 miles wherein the air moves with a velocity of from 80 to 130 miles an hour round a central column space with which the whole system advances in a straight or curved track; hence any storm or tempest with which the wind blows with terrific violence.

—Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition

By any Other Name?
Cyclones form in most of the Earth's oceans; depending on where you live, they are known by different names.

• Hurricane —North Atlantic Ocean and Northeast Pacific Ocean east of International Dateline.
• Typhoon —Northwest Pacific Ocean, west of International Dateline.
• Tropical Cyclone —Southwest Pacific Ocean west of 160 Degrees East, and Southeast Indian Ocean.

World Hurricane History

Hurricane History Across the Globe

• 1274 —Kublai Khan's first invasion of Japan foiled by a typhoon.
• 1502 —Christopher Columbus encounters a hurricane on his fourth voyage to the New World.
• 1559 —First attempt by Spanish to colonize Florida ends when a hurricane wrecks the fleet in present day Pensacola Bay.
• 1609 —English fleet bound for Jamestown is wrecked on Bermuda by a hurricane. The survivors establish the first settlement. The account of the storm and survivors is the basis for William Shakespeare's The Tempest.
• 1715 —Spanish treasure fleet bound for Spain from Cuba is destroyed in waters off Florida. Modern day treasure hunters are still searching for millions in lost gold. 
• 1876 —Hurricane and storm surge strike the Meghna River region in present day Bangladesh, death toll from the hurricane is over 100,00; and another 100,000 perish from disease.
• 1923 —A typhoon ravages Tokyo followed by an earthquake the same day Winds from the typhoon fan fires set by the quake.
• 1944 —During World War II a typhoon damages part of the U.S. pacific Fleet.

U.S. Hurricane History

Historic Weather Service Album

Louisiana Hurricane History

Louisiana Hurricane Timeline 

• 1722 —Hurricane strikes New Orleans destroying most of the buildings including the St. Louis Church.
• 1856 —Hurricane destroys the hotel and resort on "Last Island," southwest of New Orleans. One cow survived the onslaught; the island was cut in two. Today it is a bird sanctuary.
• 1957 — Hurricane Audrey makes landfall near the Texas Louisiana border causing major devastation in southwest Louisiana. Highest storm surge measured was 12.4 feet near Cameron, LA.
• 1965 —Fast moving Hurricane Betsy lashes Grand Isle, Houma and the New Orleans area,.Flooding caused severe damage in New Orleans, prompting the Corp of Engineers to undertake major levee construction throughout the city.
• 1969 —Hurricane Camille, one of the most intense storms on record, cuts a path of destruction through southeast Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
• 1992 — Hurricane Andrew
• 2005, August 29 — Hurricane Katrina
• 2005, September 24—Hurricane Rita

Louisiana Hurricane Chronology 

Video Resource Favorites

Heroes of Katrina, (2005)

The Storm, (2006)

Print Resource Favorites

Breach of Faith, (2005)

Category 5: The Story Of Camille Lessons Unlearned From America's Most Violent Hurricane, (2005)

Hurricane Katrina And The Redefinition Of Landscape, (2008)

Hurricane Katrina: Through The Eyes Of Storm Chasers, (2005)

Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane In History, (1999)

Have additional questions regarding hurricane history?

Just ask a librarian!