Brenda Coates

What is the difference between “deadliest” hurricanes & “biggest” (category 5) hurricanes? We’ve decided that for us “deadliest” is literally “dead” or deaths from a hurricane & the “biggest” as Category 5 as NOAA defines it, based on the scientific Saffir-Simpson scale. Actually we have only had 3 Category 5 hurricanes hit the US: (1) Andrew on August 16-28, 1992, (2) Camille August 14-22, 1969, (3) “unnamed Labor Day Hurricane” August 29-September 10, 1935; & we wish to include (4) Michael, since he was only shy of Category 5 by 1 mph which is close enough for us. But the 5 “deadliest” has so many factors contributing to the destruction of lives & property that it becomes more complicated. But here goes: (1) Galveston, Texas Hurricane 1900 This killer weather system moved into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Sept 5th. By the time the storm reached the Texas coast south of Galveston late on September 8, it was a Category 4 hurricane. Storm tides of 8 to 15 feet inundated the whole of Galveston Island. Death totals 8,000 (estimates range from 6,000 to 12,000). & property damage $30 million. (2) Okeechobee, Florida, Hurricane made landfall on September 16, 1928 & struck South Florida as a strong Category 4. It took over 4,078 lives. Damage $100 million. (3) Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana, made landfall on August 29, 2005. An extraordinarily powerful & deadly storm it carved a wide swath of catastrophic damage, with at least 1,836 fatalities & property damage of $81 billion. Katrina first made landfall in southern Florida as a category 1, causing some damage & fatalities & increased to Category 5 after entering the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, but weakened to Category 3 before making landfall on the Gulf Coast. (4) The Great New England Hurricane, a Category 3 struck Long Island & Connecticut on September 21, 1938. It arrived without warning at an extremely high tide, causing 12-25-foot surges throughout southern New England. Sustained winds of 121 mph were reported & traveled 425 miles in less than 8 hours. Due in part to the lack of warning, it caused 600-800 fatalities & $308 million in damages. (5)The Great Miami Hurricane made landfall on September 18, 1926 in Miami, Florida as a category 4 storm, virtually destroying the city. Storm tides in Miami ranged from 7.5 to 11.7 ft & at Miami Beach- tides ranged from 10.6 ft on the ocean side & 6.4 feet on the bay side. Deaths totaled 372 & damage estimated at $105 million. For sure advance warning has saved lives if you listen.

Katrina Hurricane – brandy, rum, passion fruit, orange juice, lime juice, grenadine 

Great New England Hurricane- Brandy, rum, grenadine, orange juice, lime juice 

Okeechobee Hurricane – Brandy, rum, passion gruit syrup, lime, simple syrup 

Original Hurricane – Brandy, rum, passion fruit, lemon juice 

Galveston Hurricane- Brandy, rum, amaretto, orange- pineapple- lemon juice, & Grenadine 

Armagnac/Calvados tasting (inc 25 Y Delord Ammagnac)  

Rick was in one day and ordered a flight.  He tried to pick up one of the flight glasses and found that the glasses were jammed up against each other without leaving any room to set the glass back into the cut-out easily.  He commented on what lousy boards we had and the crowded spacing.  Next thing we know Rick (under the watchful supervision of his wife Pam) honored us with the gift of new beautifully crafted flight boards made from an array of woods, including maple, cherry, mahogany, and some exotic ones.  Each one was hand-crafted and made especially to fit our brandy flight glasses with a nice space between the glasses but so much more handsome than the old ones out of pine.  Thanks so very much Rick and Pam for such a thoughtful gift.  We have such special members and we love them all!