 The 1920s brought several favorable conditions that helped the land and population boom , one of which was an absence of any severe storms . The last severe hurricane , in 1906 , had struck the Florida Keys . Many homes were constructed hastily and poorly as a result of this lull in storms . However , on September 18 , 1926 , a storm that became known as the 1926 Miami Hurricane struck with winds over 140 miles per hour ( 230 km / h ) , and caused massive devastation . The storm surge was as high as 15 feet ( 4 @.@ 6 m ) in some places . Henry Flagler 's opulent Royal Palm Hotel was destroyed along with many other hotels and buildings . Most people who died did so when they ran out into the street in disbelief while the eye of the hurricane passed over , not knowing the wind was coming in from the other direction . " The lull lasted 35 minutes , and during that time the streets of the city became crowded with people " , wrote Richard Gray , the local weather chief . " As a result , many lives were lost during the second phase of the storm . " In Miami alone , 115 people were counted dead — although the true figure may have been as high as 175 , because death totals were racially segregated . More than 25 @,@ 000 people were homeless in the city . The town of Moore Haven , bordering Lake Okeechobee , was hardest hit . A levee built of muck collapsed , drowning almost 400 of the town 's entire 1 @,@ 200 residents . The tops of Lake Okeechobee levees were only 18 to 24 inches ( 46 to 61 cm ) above the lake itself and the engineers were aware of the danger . Two days before the hurricane , an engineer predicted , " [ i ] f we have a blow , even a gale , Moore Haven is going under water " . The engineer lost his wife and daughter in the flood . 
 The 1920s brought several favorable conditions <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>helped the land and population boom , one of which was an absence of any severe storms . The last severe hurricane , in 1906 , <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> struck the Florida Keys . Many homes <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> constructed hastily and poorly as a result of this lull in storms . However , on September 18 , 1926 , a storm <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a>became known as the 1926 Miami Hurricane<a href='been_done' title='5'><mark></mark></a> struck with winds over 140 miles per hour ( 230 km / h ) , and caused massive devastation . The storm surge was as high as 15 feet ( 4 @.@ 6 m ) in some places . Henry Flagler <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>opulent Royal Palm Hotel was destroyed along with many other hotels and buildings . Most people <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>who</mark></a>died did so when they ran out into the street in disbelief while the eye of the hurricane passed over , not knowing <a href='None' title='8'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='9'><mark>wind</mark></a> was coming in from the other direction . " The lull<a href='been_done' title='10'><mark></mark></a> lasted 35 minutes , and during that time the streets of the city became crowded with people " , wrote Richard Gray , the local weather chief . " As a result , many lives <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> lost during the second phase of the storm . " In Miami alone , 115 people <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>were</mark></a> counted dead — although the true figure may have been as high as 175 , because death totals <a href='uninflect' title='13'><mark>were</mark></a> racially segregated . More than 25 @,@ 000 people <a href='uninflect' title='14'><mark>were</mark></a> homeless in the city . The town of Moore Haven , bordering Lake Okeechobee , was hardest hit . A levee built of muck<a href='been_done' title='15'><mark></mark></a> collapsed , drowning almost 400 of the town <a href='null_genetive' title='16'><mark>'s</mark></a>entire 1 @,@ 200 residents . The tops of Lake Okeechobee levees <a href='uninflect' title='17'><mark>were</mark></a> only 18 to 24 inches ( 46 to 61 cm ) above the lake itself and the engineers <a href='uninflect' title='18'><mark>were</mark></a> aware of the danger . Two days before the hurricane , an engineer predicted , " [ i ] f we <a href='got' title='19'><mark>have</mark></a> a blow , even a gale , Moore Haven is going under water " . The engineer lost his wife and daughter in the flood . 
The 1920s brought several favorable conditions helped the land and population boom , one of which was an absence of any severe storms . The last severe hurricane , in 1906 , done struck da Florida Keys . Many homes was constructed hastily and poorly as a result of this lull in storms . However , on September 18 , 1926 , a storm became known as tda1926 Miami Hurricane done struck with winds over 140 miles per hr ( 230 km / h ) , and caused massive devastation . Thdatorm surge was as high as 15 feet ( 4 @.@ 6 m ) in some places . Henry Flagler  opulent Royal Palm Hotel was destroyed along witt many other hotels and buildings . Most people died did soo when they ran out into thedareet in disbelief while the eye of the hurricane passed over , not knowing no wind was comin in from the other direction . " The lull been lasted 35 minutes , and during that time the streets of the day became crowded with niggas " , wrote Richard Gray , the ldal weather chief . " As a result , many lives was lost during the sedad phase of the storm . " In Miami alone , 115 people was counted dead — although the trudaigure may have been as high as 175 , because death totals was racially segregated . More den 25 @,@ 000 dudes was homeless in the city . The town of Moore Haven , bordering Lake Okeechobee , was hardest hit . A levee built of muck been collapsed , drowning almost 400 of the towndantire 1 @,@ 200 residents . The tops of Lake Okeechobee levees was only 18 to 24 inches ( 46 to 61 cm ) above the lake daelf and the engineers was aware of the danger . Two days b4 the hurricda , an engineer predicted , " [ i ] fuc we got a blow , even a gale , Moore Haven is goin under water " . The engineedaost his wife and daughter in the flood .