Hurricane Fifi–Orlene facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hurricane Fifi–Orlene

Hurricane Fifi north of Honduras at peak intensity on September 18
Meteorological history
Formed	September 14, 1974
Dissipated	September 24, 1974
Category 2 tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	110 mph (175 km/h)
Lowest pressure	971 mbar (hPa); 28.67 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	8,210 (3rd-deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record)
Damage	$1.8 billion (1974 USD)
Areas affected	Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Arizona
Part of the 1974 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons

Hurricane Fifi, later known as Hurricane Orlene, was a very powerful tropical cyclone. It caused a lot of damage and took many lives in September 1974. Most of the impact was in Honduras, where over 8,000 people died. This makes Fifi the third deadliest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded.

Fifi was also the first hurricane to cause over a billion dollars in damage without hitting the United States. It started as a strong weather system on September 14. The storm moved across the eastern Caribbean Sea. On September 16, it became Tropical Storm Fifi near Jamaica.

The storm quickly grew stronger, becoming a hurricane the next day. On September 18, it reached its strongest point as a powerful Category 2 hurricane. Fifi then moved along the northern coast of Honduras. It made landfall in Belize the next day.

After hitting land, the storm weakened quickly. By September 20, it was just a tropical depression. As it continued west, it changed into a new storm in the Pacific Ocean. This new storm was called Tropical Storm Orlene.

Orlene quickly grew into a Category 2 hurricane before hitting Mexico. It weakened after landfall and disappeared over the mountains of Mexico on September 24. Hurricane Fifi and Orlene affected nine countries. They caused over 8,200 deaths and about $1.8 billion (in 1974 money, which is about $11.2 billion today) in damages.

Most of the deaths and damage happened in Honduras. Heavy rainfall, sometimes over 24 inches (610 mm), caused widespread flash flooding and mudslides. In one town, thousands of people died overnight due to a massive flood. Fifi brought continuous rain for three days. This made rescue efforts very difficult. It was the worst disaster in Honduras' history at that time.

In nearby Guatemala, about 200 people died from severe flooding. This made Fifi the worst hurricane there in almost 20 years. After the storm, aid groups from around the world sent emergency supplies. They helped hundreds of thousands of people who lost their homes. Countries like the United States also set up donation centers. Due to the extreme damage and loss of life, the name Fifi was removed from the list of Atlantic hurricane names. It has not been used since.

Understanding Hurricane Fifi and Orlene

How Hurricane Fifi Formed and Traveled

From Tropical Wave to Powerful Hurricane

Hurricane Fifi began as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on September 8. Satellite images showed it was already well-formed. The wave traveled west and entered the Caribbean Sea by September 13. Soon after, it started to gather more clouds and thunderstorms.

On September 14, a US Navy plane flew into the system. They found a developing low-pressure center. This meant a storm was forming. The system officially became a tropical depression on September 14. Forecasters initially thought it might turn north towards Cuba, but it did not.

A map showing the path of Hurricane Fifi and Orlene in 1974.

The depression continued to get stronger as it moved west. On September 16, it became Tropical Storm Fifi just south of Jamaica. The storm kept intensifying. About 24 hours later, it became a hurricane. At this time, it had an eyewall, which is a sign of a strong hurricane.

Fifi's Path Through Central America

The storm was not perfectly round. Its strong winds stretched further north than south. Fifi turned slightly southwestward. By September 18, it reached its strongest point. It had winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a pressure of 971 mbar. This made Fifi a high-end Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. This scale had just been created the year before.

Around this time, the hurricane had almost doubled in size. Its strong winds covered an area 300 miles (480 km) across. Even though another hurricane that year, Hurricane Carmen, became a Category 4 in a similar area, Fifi could not get stronger. This was because it was too close to land. The mountains of Honduras blocked part of its circulation. Fifi passed within 20 miles (32 km) of the Honduran coast.

Fifi stayed at its peak strength for about 24 hours. It then started to weaken a little before making landfall. It hit near Placencia, Belize, with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). After moving inland, it quickly weakened to a tropical storm. By late September 20, it became a tropical depression over southwestern Mexico.

The Transformation into Hurricane Orlene

Two days later, the former hurricane moved back over water near Acapulco, Mexico. This was unusual, as it became the third known storm to cross Central America and enter the Pacific Ocean. When it was over open waters again, Fifi regained tropical storm status. However, it only kept this name for 18 hours before being renamed Orlene.

Hurricane Orlene on September 23, just before hitting northwest Mexico.

Scientists still discuss if Fifi truly became Orlene or if they merged. After this change, Orlene began to get stronger. On September 23, it became a hurricane. It quickly moved towards the north-northeast. Just before hitting land, a small eye formed in its center. This led forecasters to upgrade it to a Category 2 storm. It had maximum winds of 105 mph (165 km/h).

However, some reports said its peak winds were 80 mph (130 km/h). After hitting land, the storm weakened very quickly. It became a weak low-pressure system just six hours after moving inland. The remains of the storm lasted for several more hours. It finally disappeared over the mountains of Mexico.

Hurricane Fifi's Journey and Impact

Impacts in the Caribbean Islands

On September 15, the government of Jamaica started preparing for the storm. People were told to expect heavy rain. Small boat warnings were also issued because of rough seas. Fifi passed south of Jamaica as a tropical storm. It brought heavy rains to the island, with some areas getting over 8 inches (200 mm).

Severe flooding hit parts of Kingston. Some areas were under 2 feet (0.6 m) of water. The storm caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Luckily, no lives were lost in Jamaica. In nearby Hispaniola, the storm also caused moderate rain and flash flooding. Small boat warnings were issued for southern Cuba. Ships in the Cayman Islands were advised to stay in port. Residents there prepared for strong winds.

Honduras: The Hardest Hit Country

Fifi became a serious threat to Honduras on September 17. Forecasters expected it to hit Honduras or Nicaragua. Officials in Honduras urged hundreds of thousands of people to leave coastal and flood-prone areas. However, not many people followed these warnings. This likely led to the huge loss of life.

During the first day of the hurricane, the region experienced winds up to 132 mph (212 km/h). There was also non-stop rainfall. Early reports from the Honduran government said 14 people had died and over 100 were missing. In just 24 hours, 182 towns and villages were completely destroyed. The Red Cross reported that between 800 and 1,200 people died within 12 hours of Fifi hitting Honduras.

Buses driving through mountain passes slid off cliffs due to the slippery roads. This caused many deaths. Flash floods destroyed thousands of homes. They also cut off many towns. Waves, reaching 10 feet (3 m) high, broke boat moorings and pushed many ships ashore.

A radar image of Hurricane Fifi as it approached Belize.

Heavy rain continued throughout September 19. This led to widespread mudslides that killed over 2,000 people. A huge mudslide blocked the Choloma River. This stopped water from the river and the 20 inches (510 mm) of rain from Fifi from reaching the ocean. On September 20, a concrete bridge upstream broke. It tore through the mudslide, releasing the trapped waters.

A massive flood then rushed down the valley. The city of Choloma was devastated. Thousands of people lost their lives there. The flood happened at night, so most residents did not know what was coming.

Other towns along the coast suffered similar fates. In Armenta, about 400 families disappeared after a large landslide buried the town. The coastal town of Omoa (with a population of 2,500 to 3,000) was completely destroyed overnight on September 19. Most residents were believed to have died.

Even though the storm was inland over Mexico, its circulation still caused thunderstorms over Honduras. This made rescue efforts very difficult. Dense fog in the mountain valleys prevented nighttime rescues. The city of La Ceiba, with 53,000 people, was completely cut off. Many people were feared dead as newspapers reported bodies floating down rivers.

The number of deaths increased by hundreds every day. At one point, the official death toll was as high as 10,000. There is still some uncertainty about the exact number of fatalities from Fifi. Most estimates range from 8,000 to 10,000. This made Fifi the second-deadliest Atlantic hurricane at the time. It later became the third after Hurricane Mitch in 1998 caused similar destruction in the same area.

Fifi caused nearly $1.8 billion (1974 USD; about $11.2 billion today) in damage across Honduras. This was the worst natural disaster in the country's history at that time. In some coastal areas, only buildings on higher ground were left standing. Many cities were more than 80% destroyed. Fifi demolished over 10,000 well-built homes. An estimated 150,000 to 500,000 people lost their homes. The country's banana crop was completely wiped out. This severely affected Honduras' economy.

Effects Across Central America

Officials in Belize and Guatemala quickly prepared for the approaching hurricane. Much of Central America north of Nicaragua was affected. Rainfall of up to 4 inches (100 mm) reached as far north as Campeche, Mexico. In Chinandega, Nicaragua, the storm brought 14.5 inches (370 mm) of rain over four days. This heavy rain caused major flooding. Dozens of rivers overflowed, leaving hundreds homeless.

Communities like La Conquista, Dulce Nombre, San Gregorio, and San Vicente were cut off by floodwaters. Roads leading to them were washed away. In Chiquito, Izapa, and Tamarindo, more than ten homes were destroyed. Fifty people lost their homes. After the Río Coco overflowed in Jinotega, 120 homes were destroyed. This left 113 families homeless. Many other communities suffered similar damage, especially near the Honduras border. Hundreds of people in Wiwili clung to treetops and roofs along the Coco River.

Even though the storm made landfall in Belize, the country had much less damage than Honduras. However, winds up to 109 mph (175 km/h) were recorded. The strong winds and heavy rains damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes. Waves along the coast were 12 feet (3.7 m) higher than normal. While Honduras received over 24 inches (610 mm) of rain, Belize only got about 6 inches (150 mm). The country's $800,000 banana crop was completely destroyed. Despite the severe damage, no deaths were reported in Belize.

In Guatemala, the weakened storm brought extreme rainfall. This caused widespread flash flooding. Many bridges, roads, and homes were washed away or destroyed. At least 200 people died, making Fifi the deadliest storm in Guatemala in almost 20 years. In El Salvador, the outer parts of Fifi caused flooding rains that killed at least ten people.

Mexico and Arizona: Later Effects

As Fifi moved over Central America, its outer edges brought 4 inches (100 mm) of rain as far north as Campeche. Mexico had little or no damage from Hurricane Fifi itself. However, once it became Hurricane Orlene, the storm hit the Pacific coast of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. There were no reports of deaths or major damage from Orlene. In Acapulco, reports showed 11 inches (280 mm) of rain fell in just six hours. The leftover moisture from the hurricane brought some minor rain to parts of Arizona.

Life After the Storm: Recovery and Changes

Rebuilding Efforts Begin

In 1977, a big project started to rebuild six villages across Honduras. The first area had 121 homes, each about 25 square meters. It was located near an important highway in northern Honduras. However, rebuilding was delayed at first due to soil erosion. The second plan included 127 homes about a mile south of the first.

The third project, with 26 concrete homes, was built in the city of El Progreso. This project was designed to house many people, about seven per home. The fourth project was the most isolated. It was in a rural area, far from cities, where 92 homes were planned. The fifth project, with 33 homes, was close to the first project, also near the main highway. The final and largest housing project was set up south of the destroyed town of Choloma. A total of 600 homes, all built on concrete blocks, were part of this project.

On October 3, 1974, Guatemalan businessmen Dionisio Gutiérrez and Alfonso Bosch died. They were flying a plane to help the victims of Hurricane Fifi–Orlene in Honduras. The plane was carrying medicines collected by the Rotary Club of Guatemala. It crashed due to bad weather and cargo near the village of Las Nubes. The families of these men later created the Juan Bautista Gutierrez Foundation. This foundation helps organize social projects that they had been doing for many years.

Why the Name Fifi Was Retired

Because of the severe damage and the many lives lost from Hurricane Fifi in the Atlantic, its name was retired. This happened at the end of the 1974 hurricane season. This means the name "Fifi" will never be used again for a tropical storm in the Atlantic Ocean.

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Fifi-Orlene para niños

• List of Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Category 2 Pacific hurricanes
• Hurricane Keith (2000)
• Hurricane Iris (2001)
• Hurricane Manuel (2013)
• Hurricane Nana (2020)