New Orleans Hurricane (1915)
| Category 4 hurricane ( SSHWS ) | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Emergence | September 22, 1915 | |
| resolution | October 1, 1915 | |
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Peak wind speed |
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| Lowest air pressure | 931 mbar ( hPa ; 27.5 inHg ) | |
| dead | 275-279 | |
| Property damage | US $ 13 million (1915) | |
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Affected areas |
Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama | |
| Season overview: Atlantic hurricane season 1915 |
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The New Orleans hurricane of 1915 was a tropical cyclone of category 4 , which formed on September 22, 1915 and lasted until October 1. He met the mainland near Grand Isle in Louisiana (USA). The hurricane killed around 275 people; the property damage was approximately 13 million US dollars.
Evolution of the storm
The hurricane was first observed near the Leeward Islands between Puerto Rico and South America . As it progressed, it crossed the Yucatán Peninsula and moved north across the Gulf of Mexico , where it developed into a Category 4 storm. As it neared the US Gulf Coast, hurricane warnings were issued from Florida to Louisiana. The hurricane hit the mainland near Grand Isle, Louisiana; its center was 20 miles east of New Orleans . It then moved on to the northeast, weakening to a tropical storm as it crossed Mississippi , Alabama, and Tennessee before reaching the north.
Effects
It was reported from New Orleans that roofs were swept from homes and the Presbyterian Church in Jackson Square lost its dome. The hurricane destroyed the Times-Picayune newspaper building. More churches were damaged in the city than were left intact. The Presbyterian Church in Lafayette Square collapsed completely. The damage from the storm itself was greater than the previous hurricane that hit the city in 1909, but the tide was nowhere near as severe. However, it was reported that the storm pushed the water of Lake Pontchartrain into the city's sewer system.
The regions along the Lower Coast south of New Orleans have been hard hit. One message read: “The entire country between Poydras and Buras is flooded. The dam is gone, the loss of property is terrifying. There are many dead. The situation seems worse than ever. Help needed. (...) "
There were 23 deaths in Venice , Louisiana and similar casualties in other coastal towns such as Fremier and LaBranche. There was severe flooding in Plaquemines Parish ; several miles of the dam had been washed away. Thousands lost their homes and apartments. The hurricane also destroyed many oystercatchers' boats and with it the region's economy.
Although the 1915 hurricane did not cause as many deaths as the 1893 Chenier Caminanda Hurricane , it was the deadliest storm in Louisiana until Hurricane Betsy 50 years later in 1965. Extensive relief efforts began after the storm.
