Category 5: The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane

by Thomas Neil Knowles

In the midst of the Great Depression, a furious storm struck the Florida Keys with devastating force. With winds estimated at over 225 miles per hour, it was the first recorded Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States. Striking at a time before storms were named, the catastrophic tropical cyclone became known as the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, and its aftermath was felt all the way to Washington, D.C. In the hardest hit area of the Florida Keys, three out of every five residents were killed, while hundreds of World War I veterans sent there by the federal government perished. By sifting through overlooked official records and interviewing survivors and the relatives of victims, Thomas Knowles pieces together this dramatic story, moment by horrifying moment. He explains what daily life was like on the Keys, why the veteran work force was there (and relatively unprotected), the state of weather forecasting at the time, the activities of the media covering the disaster, and the actions of government agencies in the face of severe criticism over their response to the disaster. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 remains one of the most intense to strike America's shores. Category 5 is a sobering reminder that even with modern meteorological tools and emergency management systems, a similar storm could cause even more death and destruction today.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Historical, American History, Science

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2009

Reviews

[Brigid Rizzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A storm for the ages

This is a meticulously researched and well-crafted account of the infamous Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. The pace is riveting and the eyewitness accounts of the survivors are simply unforgettable. Required reading for all aspiring meteorologists. A cautionary tale for those who dwell in the hurricane-prone Florida Keys.

[Pancha]

Just not very interesting. Try Isaac's Storm for a page-turner on a similar event.

[Marc Steiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was both heartbreaking and eye opening. Having grown up in the Upper Keys I was fascinated to see what should have been familiar landmarks look completely different both pre and post hurricane. Looking at Snake Creek from mid 1970s to today, you would never realize what was once there. Mr. Knowles dug deep into a wealth of sources including survivors and records to show how lifestyle, politics, the handling of World War I veterans, science and technology made this an unexpected cataclysmic event.

I would recommend it for anyone familiar with the Keys, interested in the history of it or the Florida Railroad. The author also gives a great history and clear explanations of the weather technology and services.

[Rebecca Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

My great grandfather was one of the veterans washed away from Islamorada and never located due to the unexpected devastation of this powerful storm. I was hoping there would be a list of those veterans who lost their lives rather than being relegated to a number. I know others were affected, and named very throughly throughout the book, but why weren’t the veterans?

While there was an immense amount of detail on every page, and it was very well written, I still mourn for the great grandfather I never knew and for my great grandmother who just six years later lost one of her two sons in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

[Thomas S. Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great account of hurricane events but too much background material in the beginning.

Knowles gives a very thorough of the events surrounding the hurricane. He also provides many the stories of people and families impacted by the storm. He also recounts the dynamics behind the weather bureau and its involvement in the forecasting of and warnings pertaining to the storm's impact area. Anyone interested in hurricane forecasting in the 1930s , the limitations, the capabilities and, of course, the political and media scrutiny, would get great enjoyment from reading this book.

[Stephen Raguskus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating story, but it was a bit dry at times in the telling. Too many lists of family members and their ages, without diving into their personal stories. The author would've been better served by limiting himself to maybe 10-20 people and really painting their pictures. Still a very good book, especially for any weather experts.

[Shannon Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fairly accurate accounting of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.

[Skipr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book about a natural disaster I've ever read. (And I've read books that are accounts of hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, wildfires, and floods.)

[Jack Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

was Ernest Hemingway a socialist?

[Karen Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read Thomas Knowles’ carefully researched book, Category 5: The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, I found more detailed (and probably more accurate) info about Louis Cruz, my ancestor who died on his ferry boat during this hurricane. I highly recommend the book as it is very detailed and enlightening.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction book dovetails nicely with Erik Larson's Isaac's Storm about the 1900 Galveston hurricane. I suggest that if you are interested in hurricanes and the genesis of the National Weather Service, read Larson's book first.

The instant book, as the title states, is about the Category 5 hurricane that decimated the lower keys in Florida on Labor Day in 1935. Comparing the two books, it is interesting to see how weather forecasting was still more of an art than a science 35 years after the category 4 hurricane devastated Galveston. Knowles is not the adroit writer that Larson is, but the book is replete with meticulous research and is still an interesting read. The main character, of course, is the hurricane, but the stories of multiple victims track the chronology and path of the violent storm. One of the surprise characters who pops up in the book is Ernest Hemingway himself, who lived on the relatively unscathed Key West and helped with rescue and recovery efforts after the storm passed. Reading this book will definitely make you appreciate the Weather Channel and all of the available weather apps that keep you in the know and provide advance warnings.

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a long time to read this, and have read most of the chapters a couple of times. It's not bad, though it could be better. It was really helpful for my thesis, which is about the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, and I appreciate all the legwork the author put in to research this subject and tie in so many details from various players of the day. But, sometimes I was boggled by the writing. The whole book ends with a comparison between the hurricane's survivors and Deadeye, the long-lived Shedd tarpon. Wha?! The absurdity of it is almost profound, and yet it's paragraphs like those that bring levity to a topic of near-tangible horror.

[Nathalie Greenwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Managed the first 20% before returning. Writing does not flow. Many characters are briefly introduced and then don't pop up for several chapters, at which point I could only vaguely remember them so had to go back and reread. I read on a Kindle and feel this book would strongly benefit from xray (Kindle's cross-reference system), but xray is not currently available on the Kindle edition.

Overall, although I love factual, detailed non-fiction, I found it just too much work.

Agree with another reviewer to get Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson instead. Also brimming with facts but written in such a way that you get involved in the story.

[Daniel Rucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Florida native who has ridden through a few hurricanes in my life, I found this book to hit very close to home. What is interesting is that this storm still ranks among the most significant to hit the U.S. to date, however I couldn't find a good deal of in depth material outside of this book about that hurricane. Another interesting point is to realize is how much better off we are today regarding storm forecasting and tracking of these storms than what meteorologist had to work with in the early part of the 20th century. The author did a good job gathering eye witness accounts, and in-depth information about the people affected by this storm.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was recommended to me by a Keys tour guide as the best book on the 1935 Labor Day hurricane that struck the upper Keys. I enjoyed the book -- for its background information on the Keys themselves, background on weather prediction science in the early 20th century and the human interest stories that it tells about the victims of the hurricanes. It all gets to be a bit much though, all in one book, and the individual victims' stories are difficult to keep straight. Very unexpected to find that the American Legion was the rescue heroes of the story. Well worth reading.

[Shaunna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biased opinion because of the topic, otherwise probably would have been 3 stars. :)
Very informational, you could tell a lot of research was done. It was hard to keep every family straight because there were so many details, but overall well written and a great recap of a historical storm for FL and the US.

[pianogal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story. I knew nothing about the Labor Day Hurricane in the Keys. I've always wanted to visit the Keys, but if I do get to go, now I get to do so with some background knowledge.

My only complaint is that the author struggled with verb tenses. Part of it was in past tense and part in the present and the present tense was awkward. Pick one and go with it.

[Kerry Steinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts out a little slow, but if you can hold on for a couple of chapters, it gets really interesting. Lots of characters, but the writer includes little stories about everyone and brings them back up later in the story so you can identify them. Writer repeats himself on occasion, but it's tolerable. Great read, highly researched, and contains some pictures.

[LOL_BOOKS]

I LEAVE FOR FLORIDA ON THURSDAY. REC RECS FOR BOOKS I SHOULD PUT ON MY KINDLE FOR MY WEEK AT THE BEACH! NOTHING DEPRESSING OR THAT REQUIRES REAL EFFORT TO READ, HOBVIOUSLY.

SINCE YOU'LL BE IN THE AREA, THE LABOR DAY HURRICANE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOCAL HISTORY TOPICS.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it covers a fascinating topic, the writing was too camp-ey for my taste

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dad said this was too sciency and boring.