The most significant power outage in Florida’s history occurred during Hurricane Irma in 2017, when over 6.5 million Floridians were left without electricity. This was a massive disruption considering the state’s population and infrastructure, highlighting the extensive damage and impact of the storm. In comparison, other recent hurricanes like Hurricane Milton also caused widespread outages, with more than three million Floridians affected.
The largest hurricane evacuation in Florida history occurred during Hurricane Irma in 2017, when more than 6.8 million people were urged to evacuate. This massive evacuation effort was one of the largest in U.S. history, highlighting the scale of the storm and the threat it posed to the state. Three million evacuated during Milton.
Hurricane Irma resulted in a substantial death toll across the Caribbean and the United States. In total, 129 people died due to various causes related to the storm, including accidents, exacerbations of medical conditions, and stress-related health issues. For Hurricane Milton, detailed casualty figures are not available yet as responses and assessments are ongoing. However, early reports indicate that there were several fatalities. For up-to-date information on Hurricane Milton’s impact, local news sources or official updates would provide the most current figures.
The most powerful hurricanes to hit Florida, in terms of barometric pressure (a chief indicator), include:
- Hurricane Wilma (2005) – Reached a minimum pressure of 882 millibars, making it the strongest Atlantic hurricane recorded in terms of pressure at the time of its impact.
- 1935 Labor Day Hurricane – This hurricane hit with a central pressure of 892 millibars, making it one of the most intense to strike the U.S.).
- Hurricane Michael (2018) – Made landfall with a pressure of 919 millibars, ranking it too among the most intense storms at landfall in the U.S.
These tempests were incredibly destructive, primarily due to their low pressures which signify stronger storms with higher wind speeds and greater potential for severe impacts. Hurricane Milton’s lowest pressure at landfall was 938 millibars. This is considered a very low pressure, indicating a strong hurricane indeed, albeit not the strongest.
And fatalities? The 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane: This powerful Category 4 hurricane made landfall on the eastern coast of Florida near West Palm Beach. Its most catastrophic impact was the flooding around Lake Okeechobee, which claimed as many as 2,500 lives, many of whom were migrant farmworkers. The lack of adequate flood control structures led to widespread disaster, which prompted improvements in levee construction around the lake to prevent future tragedies.