View source for 1893 Sea Islands hurricane

{{Short description|Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 1893}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = 1893 Sea Islands hurricane
| image = 1893 sea islands hurricane damaged houses.jpg
| caption = Damaged houses in Beaufort, South Carolina
| formed = {{start-date|August 15, 1893|August 15, 1893}}
| dissipated = {{end-date|September 2, 1893|September 2, 1893}}
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 105
| pressure = 954
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1893
| fatalities = 1,000–2,000
| damage = 1000000
| areas = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[South Carolina]]
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1893 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}
The '''1893 Sea Islands hurricane''' was a deadly major [[Tropical cyclone|hurricane]] that struck the [[Sea Islands]] which was near [[Savannah, Georgia]] on August 27, 1893.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite journal|url=http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2006/4/2006_4_26.shtml | first1=Christine|last1= Gibson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015210710/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2006/4/2006_4_26.shtml |archive-date=15 October 2006 |title=Our 10 Greatest Natural Disasters|journal=American Heritage Magazine|volume=57|issue=4|date=September 2006|access-date=23 February 2023}}</ref> It was the 7th deadliest hurricane in United States history, and was one of three deadly hurricanes during the [[1893 Atlantic hurricane season]]; the storm killed an estimated 1,000–2,000 people, mostly from storm surge. This is also the storm that made [[United States Life-Saving Service]] Keeper [[Dunbar Davis]] famous, for rescuing four ships.  The long-term effects of the storm included the strengthening Jim Crow at the expense of local Blacks.<ref>Grego, (2022) .</ref>

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|1893_Sea_Islands_hurricane_track.png}}
Modern analysis of historical records has allowed the history of this storm to be pieced together, although the analysis is only an estimate since few accurate meteorological records were taken.

On August 15, 1893, a [[tropical storm]] formed east of [[Cape Verde]]. It likely passed directly through the islands on the 16th, leaving their vicinity during the evening of the 17th. It became a hurricane on the 19th, while crossing the Atlantic between the Cape Verde Islands and the [[Lesser Antilles]]. The hurricane continued to strengthen, attaining Category&nbsp;3 status on August 22 while located northeast of the Lesser Antilles. By the evening of the 25th, the storm was approaching the [[Bahamas]]. During the approach it began to deviate from its westerly course and arc west-northwest. It is believed that the first effects of the storm were beginning to be felt in the Sea Islands area, with the winds steadily increasing during the night of the 25th.

Some of the inhabitants anticipated the storm and left the islands as quickly as possible. The conditions rapidly deteriorated on the island and the hurricane passed over sometime on the 26th. By now the hurricane was turning more and more towards the north. It moved parallel to the coast for about one hundred miles before making landfall.

Landfall occurred near [[Savannah, Georgia]], on August 27. Reports from the time say that wind during landfall was around {{convert|120|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, making it a category 3 storm. Pressure in Savannah was measured at {{convert|960|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}; modern estimates put the pressure around {{convert|954|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}} at landfall, and possibly as low as {{convert|931|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}} out at sea. This would have made the hurricane most likely stronger than a Category&nbsp;3 storm on the [[Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale]]. The [[hurricane]] passed north over [[South Carolina]] on August 28 and moved up the [[U.S. East Coast]] before becoming extratropical over [[Atlantic Canada]]. The storm likely intensified to a Category 4, or 5, but there are no reports of this occurring.

==Impact==
{{Deadliest United States hurricanes}}
[[File:1893 sea islands hurricane red cross workers.jpg|thumb|Workers sort seed potatoes that will be used to restore inundated fields following the Sea Islands, South Carolina Hurricane, which struck on August 27, 1893.]]
In the United States, coastal flooding was reported from [[St. Augustine, Florida]], to [[Georgetown, South Carolina]].<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|60}} The storm downed hundreds of trees and partially or fully deroofed dozens of buildings in Florida, some as far as {{convert|50|mi|km|abbr=on|round=5}} inland. Storm surge and abnormally high tides also caused damage, especially along the [[First Coast]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman/148704540/|title=Devastated by Storm|date=August 29, 1893|newspaper=Idaho Daily Statesman|location=Boise, Idaho|page=1|accessdate=June 4, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> Winds deroofed structures as far south as St. Augustine and many buildings in [[Mayport (Jacksonville)|Mayport]] suffered damage. Nearby [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]] reported deroofed structures and downed trees and signs.<ref name="Mayes">{{cite thesis|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/A%20Reanalysis%20of%20Five%2019th%20Century%20South%20Carolina%20Major%20Hurricanes.pdf|title=A Reanalysis of Five 19th Century South Carolina Major Hurricanes Using Local Data Sources|author=Mayes, Douglas Owens|date=2006|institution=University of South Carolina|accessdate=November 11, 2024}}</ref>{{rp|63}} In [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], storm surge and tides inundated coastal areas with up to {{convert|7|ft|m|abbr=on}} of water on [[Hutchinson Island (Georgia)|Hutchinson Island]] and at least {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} on [[Tybee Island, Georgia|Tybee Island]] and in parts of [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]]. All along the coast around Savannah and Tybee Island, tides washed away or destroyed homes, piers, and wharves, and beached ships, while high winds destroyed many other buildings and downed numerous trees. Wind damage was reported as far inland as [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]], [[Midville, Georgia|Midville]], and [[Waycross, Georgia|Waycross]].<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|66}}

The hurricane carried with it a heavy [[storm surge]], reaching {{convert|16|ft|m|abbr=on}} above sea-level according to [[Clara Barton]], although the modern [[NOAA]] SLOSH model calculates that some areas may have been inundated up to {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on}},<ref>[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/surge/slosh.php NOAA SLOSH model]</ref> causing great destruction along the coastline and offshore [[Sea Islands]] in Georgia and South Carolina. The ''[[The Post and Courier|News and Courier]]'' reported that storm surge reached {{convert|18|ft|m|abbr=on}} at Wappoo Cut on [[Edisto Island]] and also noted that the water "spread itself over the surrounding country like an endless inland lake. For two days communication between the island and the mainland was practically suspended".<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|68}} Intense winds destroyed many homes, outbuildings, and trees on the island.<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|65}} Waters from [[Port Royal Sound]] submerged [[Coosaw Island|Coosaw]], [[Lady's Island (South Carolina)|Lady's]], [[Parris Island, South Carolina|Parris]], Warsaw, and [[Port Royal Island|Port Royal]] islands, including the city of [[Beaufort, South Carolina|Beaufort]]. There, coastal flooding significantly damaged or demolished waterfronts and wharves,<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|66}} while few homes in Beaufort and [[Port Royal, South Carolina|Port Royal]] remained undamaged by the winds.<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|63}} 

In [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], storm surge and tides flooded [[The Battery (Charleston)|The Battery]] and some western parts of the city.<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|68}} Winds downed trees and unroofed some homes.<ref name="Mayes"/>{{rp|65}} An estimated 1,000 to 2,000 people were killed (mostly by drowning), putting it on-par with [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season|2005]]'s [[Hurricane Katrina]] as the sixth-deadliest hurricane in US history. St. Helena was estimated to have 6,000 African-Americans living there while 2,000 were women. The majority of the [[African Americans|African-Americans]] owned land there and some rented. A lot of structures in that area were not elevated higher than 2 feet, and consequently were inundated by the first waves that went above the normal high water mark.<ref>{{cite news|title=SEA ISLANDS OVERWHELMED: STEADILY THE LIST OF CYCLONE VICTIMS GROWS. CORONER'S ESTIMATE OVER 750 DEAD|newspaper=New York Times Database|date=September 3, 1893|id={{ProQuest|95079845}}}}</ref>

Although the hurricane was devastating, the [[American Red Cross]] did not arrive until October 1, possibly because of ongoing efforts following another hurricane that hit South Carolina in June. After the Red Cross arrived, a warehouse of clothing and food was started at [[Beaufort, South Carolina]], to provide services to the affected. Relief efforts were impeded by a second [[Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale|Category 3]] hurricane that struck just north of the area, near Charleston, on October 13. During a massive 10-month relief campaign, success was declared, with the Sea Islands population living in decent houses producing their own food again. Damages from the storm totaled to at least $1&nbsp;million (1893&nbsp;USD), equivalent to ${{inflation|US|1|1893}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}.<ref>David Longshore ''Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones'' pg. 286</ref>

Damage was reported as far north as Maine. Some areas, particularly [[New York City]] and [[Long Island]], were already reeling from what later came to be known as the [[1893 New York hurricane]] that had struck the region just days before, on August 24, and were damaged anew by this storm. "Immense" damage was reported to shade trees and telegraph and telephone wires in Washington, DC. In [[Annapolis, Maryland]], "hardly a tree was left standing" and Baltimore reported the worst flooding since 1868. In New Jersey, damage was "heavy" in the [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]] area, and many trees were downed and roofs were blown off in [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]]. Damage was heavy all along the New Jersey coast and breakers were described as the biggest ever witnessed.  Railroad tracks were under four feet of water between Bay Head and Berkley. In New York, several people died in [[the Rockaways]], and a number of people were killed at points along the [[Hudson River]] when tow boats were destroyed. Crops were heavily damaged in Pennsylvania and upstate New York. Boats were wrecked and sunk in the [[Dunkirk, New York|Dunkirk]] area. In Brooklyn, where 13 houses under construction were destroyed, damage was "severe" and [[Gravesend Bay]] was "littered with the wrecks of small yachts and boats." In [[Coney Island]], roofs were lifted off big buildings and carried for blocks. Waves topped the seawall by 15 feet at [[Battery Park]]. Damage was heavy at resorts on Long Island and it was the worst storm on the New England coast in 20 years.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gH1mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jI0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4015,128091&dq=gale+new-york&hl=en Storm Swept Particulars of the Ruin brought by The Great Gale Many Points in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania SUFFER GREAT DAMAGE The Girard Guit September 1, 1893]</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Sl5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hD4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1850,1963613&dq=gale+new-york&hl=en Struck by a Cyclone Paterson Daily Press August 29, 1893]</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ioNmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r40NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2004,2443208&dq=hurricane+new-york&hl=en Huge Tidel Wave The Miamisburgh Bulletin September 1, 1893]</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BIFdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W1wNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4607,5939868&dq=storm&hl=en New York's Storm It was a Veritable Tornado One of The Worst Ever Experienced The Lawrence Daily August 30, 1893]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[1893 Cheniere Caminada Hurricane]]
* [[1893 Charleston Hurricane]]
* [[Hurricane Matthew]]
* [[Lists of Atlantic hurricanes]]
** [[List of Florida hurricanes]]
** [[List of New England hurricanes]]
** [[List of North Carolina hurricanes]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Grego, Caroline. (2022) ''Hurricane Jim Crow: How the Great Sea Island Storm of 1893 Shaped the Lowcountry South'' (u of North Carolina Press, 2022) [http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=58696 online]
*{{cite journal |first=Caroline |last=Grego |title=Black Autonomy, Red Cross Recovery, and White Backlash after the Great Sea Island Storm of 1893 | journal=The Journal of Southern History |volume=85 |year=2019 |issue=4 |pages=803–840 |doi=10.1353/soh.2019.0244 |s2cid=208811556 }}
*{{cite book |first=Katharine M. |last=Jones |title=Port Royal Under Six Flags, The Story of the Sea Islands |publisher=The Bobbs-Merrill Company |location=Indianapolis & New York |year=1960 |chapter=The Big Storm of 1893 }}
*{{Cite book |title=The Great Sea Island Storm of 1893 |last=Marscher |first=William |author2=Marscher, Fran |year=2004 |publisher=Mercer University Press |location=Macon, GA |isbn=0-86554-867-6 }}
*{{cite journal |first=Jeff |last=Rosenfeld |title=The Forgotten Hurricane |journal=Weatherwise |volume=46 |year=1993 |issue=4 |pages=13–18 |doi=10.1080/00431672.1993.9930252 }}
*[[Elisabeth Carpenter Satterthwait|Satterthwait, Elisabeth Carpenter]] (1898). ''A Son of the Carolinas, A story of the Hurricane upon The Sea Islands''. Philadelphia, Pa.: Henry Altemus. 273 pp. {{ISBN|0-8369-9062-5}} ({{ISBN|0-8369-9062-5}}) – a [[Historical fiction|historical-fiction]] account from the perspective of the people affected.

==External links==
* Cyclone of 1893 [http://www.halseymap.com/Flash/window.asp?HMID=49]
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/images/1893seaisland.jpg NOAA Hurricane Track]
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/thisday/gahistory/08/27 August 27 in Georgia history]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100621004323/http://beaufortcountylibrary.org/htdocs-sirsi/hurricanes.htm#THE%20HURRICANE%20OF%201893 Beaufort County Public Library hurricane history]
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/history/ North Florida & Coastal Georgia hurricanes, 1565–1899]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051018122455/http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/1893/index.html UNISYS 1893 hurricane tracks]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050921042434/http://savannahnow.com/hurricane/2003/stories/history.shtml]

{{South Carolina Lowcountry}}
{{Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1893 Sea Islands Hurricane}}
[[Category:1893 Atlantic hurricane season|*]]
[[Category:Cape Verde hurricanes|1893 Sea Islands]]
[[Category:Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes|1893 Sea Islands]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Georgia (U.S. state)|* (1893)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in South Carolina|1893 Sea Islands]]
[[Category:1893 natural disasters in the United States|Sea Islands Hurricane, 1893]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Maryland]]