Effects of Hurricane Georges in Florida

Damage to the seawall along South Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West

The eye of the storm passed near Key West about midday on September 24.[2] Upon making landfall, Hurricane Georges brought a storm surge of up to 12 ft (3.7 m) in Tavernier, with similar but lesser amounts along the Florida Keys.[2] Wind gusts near the center of the storm reached 125 mph (205 km/h).[5] The islands, some only 7 ft (2.1 m) high and 300 yd (270 m) wide, flooded easily,[3] and with up to 10 ft (3.0 m) waves, many parts of the Overseas Highway were under water. Strong winds downed palm trees and power lines, leaving all of the Keys without power. Georges's waves overturned 2 boats in Key West,[2] damaged 1,536 houses, and destroyed 173 homes, many of which were mobile homes. Rainfall amounts amounted to a maximum of 8.41 in (214 mm) in Tavernier, while other locations reported lesser amounts.[1] Damage in the Florida Keys amounted to $200 million.[6]

A long-tracked F0 tornado, originally forming as a waterspout, moved from Key Biscayne to Cutler Ridge. The tornado downed trees and power lines and left some damage to cars and homes.[7] Another F0 tornado briefly touched down in Bal Harbour and left similar damage.[8] Strong winds knocked down power lines, leaving about 200,000 people without power in the Miami area.[2] In Palm Beach County, more than 10,000 Florida Power & Light customers lost electricity on September 25, though power was restored for most of them by nightfall.[9] Wind gusts in the county peaked at 49 mph (79 km/h), leaving little damage other than some downed trees, tree limbs, and power lines.[10]

Downed trees in Key West along the old houseboat row on South Roosevelt Boulevard

On September 25, a waterspout moved onshore near Sebastian and severely damaged a factory. Rated an F1, the tornado caused about $700,000 in damages.[11] Thunderstorm winds associated with Georges left sporadic wind damage along the west coast of Florida.[12] In Charlotte County another F0 tornado tracked for 5 mi (8.0 km), uprooting several trees along its path before dissipating.[13] In DeSoto County, a weak and short-lived tornado near Arcadia damaged some tree limbs and trees before lifting. Rainfall caused the Peace River to reach 12.7 ft (3.9 m) at State Road 70 in Arcadia, more than 1.5 ft (0.46 m) above flood stage. A few homes experienced flood damage as a result. Georges spawned two brief tornadoes in Polk County. The first twister damaged awnings, blew over a few sheds, and downed large trees limbs and power lines just south of Winter Haven. The other tornado, spawned about 7 mi (11 km) northwest of Lakeland damaged two barns and knocked a trailer off its foundation. Another tornado touched down in Hillsborough County near Lutz. However, it lifted before causing any damage.[12]

Upon making landfall, Hurricane Georges produced a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 m), with higher waves on top of it. As it moved slowly through the northern Gulf Coast, it produced torrential rainfall amounting to a maximum of 38 inches (960 mm) in Munson, with other locations reporting over 20 inches (510 mm). Winds were light, peaking at 50 mph (80 km/h) along the coast, though Eglin Air Force Base recorded a gust of 90 mph (145 km/h). Outer squalls produced a tornado outbreak of 28 twisters, most of which occurred in northwestern Florida.[1]

Near Panama City, rough seas broke through the seawall and inundated waterfront buildings. Strong winds blew the roofs off several structures in the city.[14] An F1 tornado damaged several homes, causing $300,000 in damages, in Okaloosa County.[15] In Calhoun County flooding isolated up to 20 homes and roads were severely damaged. Widespread flooding in Walton County damaged numerous homes and businesses.[14] Flash flooding from local creeks inundated numerous homes, leaving $500,000 in damages.[16] High water near a levee threatened to break through and inundate a small town, resulting in the evacuation of 100 residents. Officials shut down 132 roads, including Interstate 10 due to flooding. Six homes were damaged in Gadsden County and many were left without power. Thirty roads and 20 bridges were washed out in Holmes County and an emergency evacuation of 300 residents was required. A chicken farm was flooded and 48,000 chickens drowned.[14] Damages to roadways in the county amounted to $1.3 million.[17] Flooding in Washington County caused $750,000 in damages to roads.[18]

Flooding in Jackson and Jefferson Counties shut down several roads and high winds downed numerous trees. Street flooding occurred throughout Tallahassee and many trees were downed. One tree fell on a power line and cut power to 1,800 residences in the city.[14] A brief F1 tornado in Bay County damaged 23 homes, causing $250,000 in damages.[19] Another F1 tornado caused substantial damage to a church and injured one person.[20] Numerous creeks and rivers rose near or above flood stage throughout northern Florida due to the torrential rainfall from Georges.[14] A strong F2 tornado touched down in Suwannee County, destroying seven homes and damaging five others. Five people were injured, two of which sustained serious injuries, and damages from the tornado amounted to $600,000.[21]

Damage amounted to $100 million (1998 USD, $127 million 2009 USD), though no deaths were reported.[6]