On Sept. 2, Labor Day in 1935, the strongest hurricane in Florida struck the Sunshine State with 185 mph winds and storm surges of 18 to 20 feet. The Category 5 hurricane formed in the Bahamas and slowly wrapped around Florida's west coast, obliterating the Upper Keys. Over 400 people lost their lives, including hundreds of veterans living in federally-organized work camps. The rescue train that was headed to evacuate the camps was swept off the tracks, and the Overseas Railroad connecting the Keys was damaged beyond repair. Rescue was nearly impossible because of the intensity of the slow-moving storm, and relief was very difficult during the sweltering subtropical summer. The hurricane weakened somewhat before moving north and striking Cedar Key two days later. It caused more damage as it traveled across Northwest Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas before it finally returned to the ocean. A memorial dedicated in 1937 still stands in Islamorada to honor the veterans and civilians who perished in this devastating storm. This was one of the worst hurricanes in Florida history and it was truly a horrific incident.

Below are several photos of the destruction and relief efforts taken after the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.

Countless houses and buildings were destroyed by this terrible storm.

The village of Islamorada was decimated, with much of the town's buildings gone.

Sadly, 116 veterans were killed during the hurricane. A ceremony took place a few days later at Woodlawn Cemetery in Miami, where they were interred.

It took a great deal of effort to clean up after the hurricane, with many volunteers working countless hours.

The rescue train being swept off the tracks made an already dire situation even worse.

Houseboats and ferries were destroyed. They're pictured below by the washed-out railroad tracks.

Search parties looked through the debris for days, hoping against all odds to find survivors.

The storm's horrors were unimaginable, and it's terrible to think about how shaken people must have been after this terrible event.

This was one of the worst hurricanes in Florida history, and the devastation was absolutely heartbreaking.

So many people lost their lives or everything they owned in this tragedy, during an already difficult time in U.S. history (the Great Depression). We can't imagine how devastating this must have been, and we hope that modern advances in storm warning technology will help prevent tragedies of this magnitude from ever happening in Florida again.

Hurricanes in Florida are sadly a common occurrence, and making sure to keep emergency kits on hand could save your life. Make sure to check your gear annually and see if you need any additional emergency supplies.