Hurricane Donna, the first major hurricane in Florida since the Miami storm of October 1950, was first detected in the tropical North Atlantic on September 2. Hurricane Donna caused a storm surge of up to 4 m (13 ft) in the Florida Keys, 3.4 m (11 ft) along the SW coast of Florida, 1.8–2.4 m (4-8 ft) in North Carolina, and a 1.5-3 m (5-10 ft) surge along the New England coast. Florida had about 3 million people at this time. Total damages in 1960 were determined to be $3.3 billion dollars ($22.48 billion dollars now); but understand, Hurricane Donna hit a Florida that was much less populated than today. Andrew left more than 250,000 people homeless and … 1960: Hurricane Donna slammed into the Florida Keys in 1960 with wind speeds of 200 mph. THE FRONT PAGE of The Ledger of Sept. 12, 1960, tells of damage suffered by Polk County and Florida from Hurricane Donna the day before. Hurricane Donna. It was the first major storm to wreak havoc in South Florida in over 30 years, with the previous being Hurricane Donna. Hurricane Charley was the strongest hurricane to strike Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the most powerful storm to strike southwest Florida since Hurricane Donna in 1960. After a 10-year absence, Hurricane Donna hit Florida in 1960. ... • After causing an estimated $100 million in damage in South and Central Florida, Hurricane Donna struck Jacksonville a glancing blow before heading north out over the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Donna in 1960 produced winds of up to 90-100 mph in Sarasota/Bradenton, however, winds were up to 160 mph in the interior of Florida. In spite of the high winds, the Bradenton/Sarasota area was once again spared, with mostly flood and tree damage. As Hurricane Donna bore down on Polk County 50 years … September 9-11, 1960. A total of 300 Atlantic tropical cyclones have produced hurricane-force winds in every state along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico (as well as Pennsylvania), with Florida having had more hurricanes affecting it than any other state.. "Andrew, the Labor Day hurricane and the Great Miami hurricane … Donna went past Venice and Sarasota with 90 mph winds, causing flooding and wind damage. The Florida of fifty years ago bears almost no resemblance to the Florida we know today. ... had sent crews to hard-hit areas in South Florida. 50 years ago this week: Hurricane Donna strikes, explosion at County Courthouse. AccuWeather interviewed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to find out the top five worst hurricanes to hit Florida. A pressure of 26.35 inches measured at Long Key, Florida makes this the most intense hurricane of record to hit the United States and the third most intense hurricane of record in the Atlantic basin (surpassed only by the 26.05 inches in Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and 26.22 inches observed in Hurricane … Track of Hurricane Donna. Probabilistic QPF. Through the 1960s and up to the present, hurricanes have passed Sarasota, some causing slight damage.