Hurricane Flora

Hurricane Flora was one of the deadliest hurricanes in history. Flora blasted through the Caribbean in September and October, 1963.

Flora first struck the island of Tobago as a Category 3 hurricane where it caused such great damage that it changed the economy of the island from cash-crop agriculture towards tourism and fishing. Flora then crossed the Caribbean Sea and strenghened to a Category 4 and slammed into the southern part of Haiti before hitting Cuba near Guantanamo Bay. Flora then slowed up and stalled over Cuba before veering 180 degrees and heading to the northeast into the Atlantic, sparing the East Coast of the U.S.

Flora left over 7,000 people dead in Haiti and Cuba, making it one of the five deadliest hurricanes in Atlantic history.

The name Flora was retired and will never be used for a hurricane again; this name was replaced by Freda in 1967.

See also