Truth be told, hurricanes in Georgia are not nearly as common as you'd think. We've been pretty lucky when it comes to these natural disasters. Of course, the term "lucky" is used a bit loosely, because there has still been considerable damage done by some previous hurricanes in Georgia. However, for some reason, the Peach State never seems to get the brunt of the storm. Why, you ask? There is a scientific explanation. Georgia has a curved coastline, making it much harder to attract a direct hit. Plus, our state has fewer miles of coastline than our neighboring states of Florida and South Carolina, both of which have endured more than their share of Atlantic hurricanes.
However, more than a century ago, a deadly and catastrophic storm hit our great state. The 1898 Georgia Hurricane (at this point, hurricanes did not receive names like they do today) was the strongest hurricane in the state's history. This was truly a weather incident that will never be forgotten, and it was the worst hurricane in Georgia's history.
This was the last Category 4 storm to make landfall in the Peach State. The storm resulted in 179 deaths.
A devastating amount of rainfall landed in portions of the state.
The rainfall resulted in massive storm surges, with flooding up to 16 feet in Brunswick.
Cumberland Island saw winds of up to 135 miles per hour when the hurricane made landfall.
For the very first time in history, communications were cut between Jacksonville and other northern cities, like New York.
A majority of the anchored boats along the coastline were either sunk or washed up inland against the marshes.
Parts of the Savannah River rose up to more than eight feet higher than usual.
The Savannah Weather Bureau asserts that over 60,000 bushels of rice were destroyed in the storm.
The overall damage from the storm totaled over one million USD in 1898, which with inflation would be more like $30,000,000 in today's currency.
Hopefully, we never see a hurricane in Georgia like that again. What are some of the worst hurricanes in Georgia history that you can remember? Share your stories in the comments.
Remember that even in today's technology-laden world, weather incidents can still surprise us. Make sure to stay prepared with basic emergency preparedness supplies so you're ready for power outages and floodwaters, just in case.
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