page_title: Effects of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane in Florida
section_title: West Palm Beach to Jupiter
hierarchical_section_title: Effects of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane in Florida / Impact / West Palm Beach to Jupiter
caption_attribution_description: English: Devastation from the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane in West Palm Beach, Florida, from south of the courthouse
context_page_description: The effects of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane in Florida included at least 2,500 fatalities in the state of Florida, making this the second deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of the contiguous United States, behind only the 1900 Galveston hurricane. The hurricane originated from a tropical depression that formed near Dakar, Senegal, on September 6. Traversing the Atlantic Ocean, the cyclone struck the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas as a powerful hurricane. Early on September 17, the storm made landfall near West Palm Beach, Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Thereafter, it moved further inland across the Southeastern United States and became extratropical over North Carolina on September 20, before the remnants lost their identity over Ontario on September 21.
  Along the east coast of Florida, the most severe damage was reported from Miami to Fort Pierce, particularly in Palm Beach County. In West Palm Beach, one of the most severely affected coastal cities, a total of 1,711 houses were destroyed and 6,369 others suffered damage, which left about 2,100 families homeless.
context_section_description: In the week leading up to the hurricane, West Palm Beach observed 18.42 in (468 mm) of precipitation, at least 10 in (250 mm) of which fell during the storm. Among the buildings destroyed include a furniture store, pharmacy, warehouse, hotel, school, and an ironworks, while many other structures were unroofed. All of the theaters in the city were damaged. The Kettler Theater, the first theater built in West Palm Beach, suffered severe damage, totaling about $125,000. The Arcade and the Stanley likewise were badly impaired, but the Stanley quickly reopened by October. Additionally, the Flamingo was destroyed, with only walls remaining standing, "and precious little of them." Skylights at the county courthouse shattered, flooding the Criminal Court of Record rooms. Many of the buildings that collapsed were wooden-frame, while the few concrete-built structures remained standing. Only one business on Clematis Street – the main business thoroughfares of West Palm Beach – escaped serious damage. Because the hospital was partially destroyed, a temporary hospital was set up in the Pennsylvania Hotel. However, the hotel itself was damaged; the chimney crashed through 14 floors, causing about $60,000 in damage. The fire station also collapsed, though the fire bell remained intact. At the city library, then located at City Park (now known as Flagler Park), more than half of the books were destroyed and the floor was covered with about 2 ft (0.61 m) of water and mud. Winds shattered a skylight at city hall, damaging bookkeeper records.
  Banyan Boulevard (then known as First Street), considered the auto row of West Palm Beach, was reduced to "a mass of debris." Only two buildings remained standing on the north side of the street between Dixie Highway and Olive Avenue, owning to the frail construction of the business buildings in that section of the city. The roof and equipment in The Palm Beach Post building were damaged after the chimney fell. However, The Palm Beach Post was able to publish a newspaper. At the Palm Beach Times, the building was partly demolished, causing the company's machines to be damaged by rain. Despite the damage, the Palm Beach Times also published a short edition on the afternoon of September 17. The Central Farmers Trust Company, the only bank in the city, was deroofed and flooded. The Comeau Building, which has been listed as a National Register of Historic Place since 1996, suffered severe damage to its roof tiles; they were subsequently replaced. Prior to the storm, the American Legion building was designated as the headquarters for the Red Cross, but the building was severely damaged, forcing the Red Cross to set up its relief post at another building. At Palm Beach High School, then located where the Dreyfoos School of the Arts stands today, the clock tower collapsed. Most buildings at Saint Ann's Catholic Church were deroofed, including the rectory and school facilities, while the Bradley Hall Towers were destroyed. Rainfall entering the buildings damaged furniture, plastering, and vestments. Flamingo Park was among the worst hit areas of the city. Many homes suffered "untold damage", while a shopping center on Lake Avenue experienced near complete destruction. In contrast, the El Cid and Northwood neighborhoods were mainly inflicted with only "superficial" impact. Many streets in Vedado were blocked by fallen pine trees. At Bacon Park, the area west of Parker Avenue was desolate. The L. Van Son House, proclaimed as "one of the most unusual landmarks", was demolished.
  In the African American section of the city, where most dwellings were built of discarded material, many homes were damaged. On one street, only two houses did not lose either their walls or roof. Walls and cars were cartwheeling down the streets. During the storm, about 100 people ran to a trash incinerator, a concrete-reinforced building. A few of the local Black churches suffered significant damage. Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church lost many bricks on its front facade and much of the metal grillwork around the entrances, while the 
caption: Destruction south of the courthouse
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