Hurricane Betsy Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Hurricane Betsy
Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Betsy in the Gulf of Mexico
Formed	August 27, 1965
Dissipated	September 14, 1965



Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 155 mph (250 km/h)
Lowest pressure	941 mbar (hPa); 27.79 inHg



Damage	$1.42 billion (1965 USD)
Areas affected	Windward Islands, Bahamas, south Florida and Florida Keys, Louisiana, inland Southern United States

Part of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Betsy was a very powerful hurricane that hit in 1965. It caused a lot of damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Betsy was one of the strongest storms of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season.

This hurricane made its strongest landfall near the Mississippi River. It caused huge floods in New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain. At the time, Betsy was the most expensive hurricane in United States history. It was the first hurricane to cause over a billion dollars in damage. Because of this, it earned the nickname "Billion-Dollar Betsy." Sadly, 76 people died because of Hurricane Betsy.

What is a Hurricane?
Betsy's Journey
Impact on the Bahamas and Florida
Louisiana and New Orleans Flooding
Aftermath and Legacy
Images for kids
See also

What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a huge, spinning storm that forms over warm ocean waters. It has strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricanes are also called tropical cyclones. They get their energy from the warm water.

The center of a hurricane is called the "eye." The eye is usually calm and clear. Around the eye is the "eyewall," which has the strongest winds and heaviest rain.

Betsy's Journey

Hurricane Betsy started as a tropical wave on August 27, 1965. It formed off the coast of Africa. The storm slowly grew stronger as it moved west. It became a tropical storm on August 29.

Betsy then became a hurricane on August 30. It moved through the Windward Islands. These islands are in the Caribbean Sea. Betsy caused some damage there before moving into the open Atlantic Ocean.

Impact on the Bahamas and Florida

Betsy continued to get stronger as it moved toward the Bahamas. It hit the Bahamas as a major hurricane. This means it had very strong winds. The storm caused widespread damage to homes and buildings. Many trees were knocked down.

After the Bahamas, Betsy headed for Florida. It hit south Florida and the Florida Keys on September 8. The hurricane brought strong winds and heavy rain. Many areas experienced flooding. Roads became rivers in places like Key West. Power lines were also knocked down.

Louisiana and New Orleans Flooding

After leaving Florida, Hurricane Betsy moved into the Gulf of Mexico. It gained strength again over the warm waters. Betsy became a very powerful Category 4 hurricane. This is a very dangerous storm.

Betsy made landfall in Louisiana on September 9. It hit near the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm pushed a huge amount of water from Lake Pontchartrain into New Orleans. This caused major flooding in the city.

Many parts of New Orleans were underwater. People had to be rescued from their homes. The flooding was very severe. It took a long time for the water to go away. The damage in Louisiana was immense.

Aftermath and Legacy

Hurricane Betsy continued to move inland. It weakened as it moved over land. The storm still brought heavy rain to states like Arkansas. Betsy finally disappeared on September 14, 1965.

The total damage from Hurricane Betsy was about $1.42 billion. This was a huge amount of money at the time. It showed how destructive hurricanes could be. Betsy helped scientists learn more about how to track and prepare for big storms. It also led to better ways to warn people about hurricanes.