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Hurricane Flora facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Hurricane Flora was one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to hit the Atlantic Ocean. This powerful storm happened in the autumn of 1963. It caused a lot of damage and sadness, especially in the Caribbean.

What Was Hurricane Flora?

Hurricane Flora was a very strong tropical storm. It formed in the Atlantic Ocean in September 1963. It grew stronger as it moved west. Hurricanes are giant storms that spin over warm ocean waters. They bring very strong winds and heavy rain.

Flora's Incredible Strength

Flora became extremely powerful. Its winds reached a top speed of 145 miles per hour. This is like a Category 4 hurricane. Imagine winds strong enough to lift cars! This made Flora one of the most intense storms of its time.

Where Flora Hit

Flora first hit the southwestern part of Haiti. This was when it was at its strongest. The storm then moved slowly over Cuba. It stayed there for almost four days. This long time meant more rain and wind. After Cuba, Flora moved northeast into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Damage It Caused

Hurricane Flora caused terrible destruction. It brought massive floods and strong winds. Many homes and buildings were destroyed. Roads and bridges were also washed away. This made it hard for people to get help.

Lives Lost

The hurricane led to a huge loss of life. Between 7,000 and 8,000 people died because of Flora. This was a very high number. At that time, it was the deadliest storm since the Galveston Hurricane in September 1900. That storm also caused many deaths.

Why Flora Was So Deadly

Flora was so deadly for a few reasons. Its winds were very strong. It also moved very slowly, especially over Cuba. This meant it dumped huge amounts of rain for days. The rain caused massive flooding and mudslides. Many people were caught off guard by the storm's slow movement.

After the Storm

After Hurricane Flora, the name Flora was officially retired. This means no future hurricane will ever be named Flora again. Hurricane names are retired when a storm is very deadly or causes extreme damage. This is done to honor the victims and to avoid confusion.


Images for kids

  • Flora1963filledrainblk

    Hurricane Flora's storm total rainfall

  • Destruction in Petit Thou de Nippes from Hurricane Flora, 1963

    Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, a village in Haiti, was almost completely destroyed.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Huracan Flora (1963) para niños

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