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Has small light stains and sticker residue on back cover. Also has edge/corner wear. No writing/highlighting noticed during inpsection, might have very little. May have shelf and general use wear. Ships prompt. We are confident you will be satisfied with this product. If satisfied, please leave positive feedback, if a problem should arise, please contact us so that we may have the change to fix it. Thank you. Has small light stains and sticker residue on back cover. Also has edge/corner wear. No writing/highlighting noticed during inpsection, might have very little. May have shelf and general use wear. Ships prompt. We are confident you will be satisfied with this product. If satisfied, please leave positive feedback, if a problem should arise, please contact us so that we may have the change to fix it. Thank you. See less

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Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 Paperback – Illustrated, August 1, 2019

by Willie Drye (Author)

4.5 140 ratings

Part of: Adventure Press (17 books)

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In 1934, hundreds of jobless World War I veterans were sent to the remote Florida Keys to build a highway from Miami to Key West. The Roosevelt Administration was making a genuine effort to help these down-and-out vets, many of whom suffered from what is known today as post-traumatic stress disorder. But the attempt to help them turned into a tragedy. The supervisors in charge of the veterans misunderstood the danger posed by hurricanes in the low-lying Florida Keys. In late August 1935, a small, stealthy tropical storm crossed the Bahamas, causing little damage. When it entered the Straits of Florida, however, it exploded into one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. But US Weather Bureau forecasters could only guess at its exact position, and their calculations were well off the mark. The hurricane that struck the Upper Florida Keys on the evening of September 2, 1935 is still the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the US. Supervisors waited too long to call for an evacuation train from Miami to move the vets out of harm’s way. The train was slammed by the storm surge soon after it reached Islamorada. Only the 160-ton locomotive was left upright on the tracks. About 400 veterans were left unprotected in flimsy work camps. Around 260 of them were killed. This is their story, with newly discovered photos and stories of some of the heroes of the Labor Day 1935 calamity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From Jim Cantore, The Weather Channel "A scenario similar to the 1935 hurricane is one of my biggest fears as a forecaster today. This is a haunting and very possible scenario in coastal areas that have seen exponential growth since this monster. Willie Drye's book relives that 1935 horror and reminds us how breathtaking and unforgiving paradise can be."

From Clyde Edgerton, New York Times bestselling author and winner of five New York Times Notable Book of the Year awards "A big reward here is finding writing which at every turn is vivid and significant. This book places you atop a high roaring wave and will not let you down until the last page."

From Bryan Norcross, former Weather Channel meteorologist and now hurricane specialist for WPLG-TV in Miami.

"This new release of Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 is as gripping as an adventure novel, and as important as any book about hurricanes on my bookshelf."

From Jeff Masters, meteorological director for The Weather Underground. "Willie Drye's excellent and remarkably detailed book brings the reader directly into the eye of the storm, where he follows a host of dramatic stories for survival. The story and lessons of the 1935 hurricane are important to learn, since a warming climate promises to make such maximum-strength hurricanes more common at a time when the coastal population is surging

About the Author

Willie Drye has been chasing stories since the early 1980s, first as a reporter and editor for newspapers in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida and then as an award-winning author and freelance journalist. His latest book, For Sale—American Paradise: How Americans Were Sold and Impossible Dream in Florida, was a winner of a 2016 IPPY Award Silver Medal for non-fiction.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lyons Press; Revised edition (August 1, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1493037978
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1493037971
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.36 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.17 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #476,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #176 in Atmospheric Sciences (Books)
- #234 in Natural Disasters (Books)
- #6,612 in U.S. State & Local History

Customer Reviews:
4.5 140 ratings

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Willie Drye

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Award-winning author and journalist Willie Drye's latest book, For Sale-American Paradise: How Our Nation Was Sold An Impossible Dream In Florida, won a 2016 IPPY Award Silver Medal for Best Nonfiction, Southeast Region. He also won the 2007 Charlie Award for Best Public Service Coverage from the Florida Magazine Association.

Drye is a contributing editor for National Geographic News and has written about hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis and dozens of other topics. His stories about Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike set page-view records at NG News. His work also has been published in the Washington Post, Toronto Globe and Mail, and other regional and national publications.

Drye's first book, Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, was praised by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and others, and is regarded by many meteorologists as the definitive book about this tragic and fascinating event. The book was made into a documentary film by the History Channel titled "Nature's Fury: Storm of the Century."

Drye served in the US Army Medical Corps, earned an Honorable Discharge, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in North Carolina, where he divides his time between Plymouth and Wilmington.

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Customers find the book a compelling and interesting story about one of the worst storms to hit the US. They appreciate the thorough research that leaves them well-informed. The book is described as an enjoyable read that reads like fiction.

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8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging and well-researched. They appreciate the detailed retelling of one of the worst storms to hit the US. The book also provides an interesting history lesson about the plan to build Route 1 along its length.

"I liked it because it not only affirms what happened, but clarifies the details we recently learned on a Road Scholar trip to Florida, the..." Read more

"Very good read w/ strong history component...." Read more

"This is a really fascinating and well told narrative of the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. It reads like fiction!" Read more

"This was well researched and well told. I lived through several hurricanes while living in Florida. Anything under Cat 3 and I stayed." Read more

6 customers mention "Knowledge"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's research thorough and informative. They appreciate the detailed narrative of the 1935 Labor Day event and its rich history and science content, but not overdone.

"I liked it because it not only affirms what happened, but clarifies the details we recently learned on a Road Scholar trip to Florida, the..." Read more

"...The author’s thorough research leaves the reader well-informed...." Read more

"...I particularly liked all the information on Hurricanes, some of the patterns local people look out for during Hurricane season, and known..." Read more

"This is a really fascinating and well told narrative of the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. It reads like fiction!" Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. It has a strong history component, but it also reads like fiction. The writing is well-done and the author is praised for his writing style, even though some readers could tell his political motivations.

"...The story of the first bridge and the hurricane is well written and enjoyable to read (I read it after the trip)." Read more

"Very good read w/ strong history component...." Read more

"...It reads like fiction!" Read more

"...Great props to the author even if you could tell what his political motivations were." Read more

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Mark A. Bauer
Interest in the book enhanced by a visit to the area
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
I liked it because it not only affirms what happened, but clarifies the details we recently learned on a Road Scholar trip to Florida, the everglades and the Keys. The story of the first bridge and the hurricane is well written and enjoyable to read (I read it after the trip).

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Sarah Correia
Well researched
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020
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I learned a lot reading this book about hurricanes, the Florida Keys and the hurricane of 1935. I'm a researcher so books that aren't well researched I just put down but I read this book almost straight through and will read it again.

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4 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer
Purchaser happy
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2024
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Exactly what I wanted, excellent condition and quick delivery

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Donald
Detailed Look at a Horrific Event
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2019
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I grew up in South Florida. Trips to “The Keys” were a joy. I remember fishing from the old 7-mile highway bridge, built on the original railroad bridge after the hurricane destroyed the railroad. I also went through several hurricanes. But even then, the Hurricane of 1935 was seen as cataclysmic. I sought to read first-hand details about that event. But envisioning it was a horror.

Storm Features at Landfall

• The storm surge reached 19 feet. (The sea level at the Upper and Middle Keys was 5-7 feet.)
• Sustained winds were 185 mph.
• With a barometric pressure of 892 millibars (26.34 inches), even today this storm remains the most intense U.S. landfalling Atlantic hurricane.

In Storm of the Century, author Willie Drye does an excellent job of recreating the background that led the veterans to the keys, the hurricane’s landfall with its tragic losses, and the aftermath of investigations and whitewashes. This period covered about four years. Drye concludes with a “where are they now” retrospective and a recent update on the area’s storm history.

The author’s thorough research leaves the reader well-informed. To provide first-hand details, Drye examined past newspapers and periodicals, and visited local libraries and archivists. He also interviewed survivors and relatives of those in the storm. His material is generously annotated at the book’s end, although not indexed within the text.

The Story

The book’s early stages focused on the Depression era “Bonus Army” of World War I veterans who demonstrated for an advance on their bonus payment for wartime service. These desperate individuals converged on Washington D.C. and erected a tent city. Their encampments became an embarrassment to the administration (Hoover’s and Roosevelt’s). A veterans work program in the Florida Keys could extract the demonstrators from Washington. So, the veterans were sent to the Keys to work on an “overseas highway,” a project they would never finish.

The Florida Keys in the 1930s were nothing like today. Facilities, transportation, and communications were primitive even by standards then. The main mode for remote travel was by train to Key West or South Florida via an overseas rail line. No connecting highway existed. The native population was sparse: probably under 1,000 outside of Key West. The storm’s target was Islamorada, a strip of land 20 miles long and, at its broadest point, no more than one mile wide.

In 1935, hurricane forecasters lacked weather satellites, hurricane reconnaissance aircraft, and technological equipment. Position reports originated from passing ships. A barometer could detect an approaching storm, but could not accurately predict its intensity or direction.

Additionally, administrators without hands-on experience were unlikely to be savvy about the tasks and durations needed for hurricane preparation and evacuation. These shortcomings would be exposed during this worst-case storm that changed its direction and rapidly intensified close to shore.

Worst off were the vets. Their camps were shoddily built and dangerously located. Lack of advance planning and bureaucratic inertia delayed their evacuation until it was too late. Over 400 people died; more than half, vets.

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7 people found this helpful

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Jerome Hanson
Excellent story and vast information on Hurricanes in general
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2014
Verified Purchase
Very good read w/ strong history component. I particularly liked all the information on Hurricanes, some of the patterns local people look out for during Hurricane season, and known characteristics. I bought another copy and sent it to a friend that lives in Florida. Thought he would enjoy the story and he could use the information for his own benefit and safety.

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5 people found this helpful

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kathy dove
Storm of the Century
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2013
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Storm of the Century review

My husband is reading it. He was born in Key West so it is interesting to him.

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Southern Sun
Really fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2020
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This is a really fascinating and well told narrative of the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. It reads like fiction!

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3 people found this helpful

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L. Barrett
A detailed and well-researched retelling of one of the worst storms to hit the US
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
Drye's experience as a journalist and writer combine to bring this true story to life 85 years later. A must read for anyone interested in hurricanes, history, veterans interest, government mishandling, and humanity in general.

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Top reviews from other countries

Ric
An astonishing report at one of the most tragic events in American history
Reviewed in Canada on May 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
I cannot sing the praises of this book often or loud enough. Mr. Drye’s attention to detail about the ‘35 hurricane that swept over 250 WWI veterans to their deaths is a heartbreaking yet necessary look at an event in history that is shamefully overlooked. Highly recommended.

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DAVID BRYSON
NAMELESS NEMESIS
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2018
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It was my interest in railways that led me recently to buy two vivid and absorbing books concerned with the railway over the Florida Keys that met its destruction on 2 September 1935. The destroying angel that visited Florida on that day has never to my knowledge had an official name like modern hurricanes, but it is still the most powerful wind ever known to have assaulted the USA. It dominates Les Standiford’s Last Train to Paradise; but that is still a book about the railway first and foremost. In Willie Drye’s Storm of the Century the railway is a vital part of the scene but not the main part. The Labor Day orgy of destruction takes up most of the book – that together with the actions (or lack of action) that deposited so many victims in its path; with the chains of miscommunication that hid the truth of what was happening; and with the squalid politics that then masqueraded as enquiries.

Willie Drye goes into some detail regarding the formation and development of hurricanes, while still denying that the full story of that phenomenon is completely understood. Their basic ‘fuel’ (a word he uses repeatedly) is warm sea-water; and another factor in the process – one that took me aback – is that in certain circumstances the winds can coil themselves around the central eye, so that the cloud formation is not actually very wide by hurricane standards, while the intensity of the winds is enormous and diabolical. That was the origin of the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.

We have to remember that wireless communications and meteorology were at 1935 levels. The author seems to imply that even with up-to-date technologies today prediction of a hurricane’s impending path is not a matter of absolute certainty. With our hurricane-monster still impending it sounds as if locals and experienced natives had a sense for the matter that science could not yet match. The distant weather bureau was doing its conscientious best in putting out weather advisories. These were as good as the state of the art allowed, which of course did not excuse them later from foolish charges of inaccuracy.

The Florida Keys are low coral islets, obviously prone to flooding in a region prone to hurricanes. As was alleged in Congress by the formidable New England Republican widow Mrs Rogers, they looked a convenient place to ‘park’ hundreds of WW1 veterans who were unemployed and demanding early payment of promised bonuses. They were an embarrassment to the new President and his New Deal, and the conditions of this ‘relegation’ were squalid in the extreme, something not always admitted, particularly not to the tenacious Mrs Rogers. However it was beginning to penetrate official consciousness that they ought to be moved out of the way of potential harm, whatever anyone chose to believe about the hurricane’s path. Well, the hurricane struck with a violence that nobody had ever experienced before, and the train supposedly being sent to rescue them had still not appeared. They had only their rickety cabins, which the storm smashed like matchwood: ‘residents’ homes fared little or no better; and Willie Drye’s account of the whole scene is almost as devastating to read about as it may have been to experience, if that can even be imagined.

The storm eventually moved on, but one further horror that gets the full treatment here is the nauseating condition of the cadavers, attacked immediately by the heat, the humidity and the blowflies. Drye is not rhetorical in his account of the so-called reports that descended into farcical attempts at denying human responsibility for the death and destruction, attributing all that to divine intervention. However clear ‘goodies’ and ‘ baddies’ appear through the murk of lies and prevarication. Mrs Rogers I have mentioned, and another worthy actor was the investigator David Kennamer. This pillar of integrity had pointed his finger at three federal officials, dismissing the Hand of God arguments with the contempt they clearly deserved. If he had had no party politics of any kind his inconvenient conclusions would no doubt have met with the same treatment as they hastily did, but for good measure Drye mentions that he had a long Republican pedigree.

Oddly, the most famous denizen of the Keys gets only a passing mention plus a quote from a short newspaper piece. It’s true of course that Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West, which had escaped the worst of it all, but, as Drye again points out, Hemingway was a Republican too, out of sympathy with Mr Roosevelt and his deals. What FDR knew about the plight of the vets and the way they were shunted to their death Drye doesn’t seem to take a position on. One is almost tempted to say that the conditions under which these brave and patriotic rejects were reduced to living for so long was not a lot better.

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