Effects of Hurricane Jeanne in the Treasure Coast
 Hurricane Jeanne making landfall on Hutchinson Island near peak intensity on September 25 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 13, 2004 |
| Extratropical | September 28, 2004 |
| Dissipated | September 29, 2004 |
| Category 3 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 120 mph (195 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 951 mbar (hPa); 28.08 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 2[1] |
| Damage | $3.25 billion (2004 USD) |
| Areas affected | Treasure Coast; St. Lucie County, Martin County, (Particulary Indian River County) |
| [2] | |
Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season | |
| General
Effects Other wikis | |
In September 2004, Hurricane Jeanne made landfall in Martin County, along Florida's Treasure Coast, as a Category 3 major hurricane, causing widespread destruction in the area. The most severe damage occurred in Indian River County, where losses were estimated at $2 billion (2004 USD).
The combined impact across the Treasure Coast counties alone totals over $3.25 billion (2004 USD), equivalent to approximately $5.5 billion (2025 USD).[3] Two fatalities occurred in the Treasure Coast; one in St. Lucie County, and one in Indian River County.[4]
Background
[edit]Meteorological History
[edit]
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn September 18, while Jeanne was being tracked near Great Inagua and Haiti, a new center formed well to the northeast and the previous circulation dissipated.[5] The system restrengthened, becoming a hurricane on September 20.[6] Jeanne continued to meander for several days (making a complete loop in the process) before beginning a steady westward motion toward the Bahamas and Florida.[7]
Jeanne continued strengthening as it headed west, passing over Great Abaco in the Bahamas on the morning of September 25.[8] Shortly thereafter, the hurricane reached Category 3 strength.[9] Jeanne maintained this intensity as it passed Grand Bahama Island.
Jeanne slightly weakened before landfall, after entering an eyewall replacement cycle.
At 11:50 p.m. EDT on September 25 (0350 UTC September 26), Jeanne made landfall on South Hutchinson Island, just east of Sewall's Point, as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour (190 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 951 mb.[10] The location of landfall was only two miles from where Hurricane Frances made landfall three weeks earlier.[7][11][12]
Preparations
[edit]Many preparations across the Treasure Coast were rushed as Jeanne was originally projected to make a turn to the northeast and hit the Carolinas.
Preparations were complicated by the damage from Hurricane Frances, which made landfall in the same area three weeks earlier. Schools in St. Lucie County remained closed for Jeanne; they had not been reopened since Hurricane Frances struck the county three weeks earlier.[13]
At 8PM EDT September 24, as Jeanne was near the Bahamas, a hurricane warning was issued for the Treasure Coast in preparation for Jeanne.[14]
Impact
[edit]Below is a summary of the impacts of Hurricane Jeanne across the Treasure Coast.
| County | Total Damage (2004 USD) |
Fatalities |
|---|---|---|
| Martin County | $50 million | 0 |
| St. Lucie County | $1.2 billion | 1 |
| Indian River County | $2 billion | 1 |
Martin County
[edit]In Sewall’s Point, 180 homes were destroyed, and 4,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.[15]
The highest wind gust was reported in Jensen Beach, at 105 miles per hour (169 km/h).[16]
Significant beach erosion was caused by Jeanne in Martin County, especially on Hutchinson Island. Due to the eyewall passing through Martin County, a special tornado warning was issued (precursor to the Extreme Wind Warning).[17] Total damage estimates from Martin County are at $50 Million (2004 USD).[15]
St. Lucie County
[edit]In St. Lucie County, the high winds and significant storm surge occurred. A wind gust of 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) was reported at a home near Fort Pierce Inlet. Numerous boats were destroyed at a marina near the inlet from strong winds. Significant damage to mobile homes in Fort Pierce occurred.
A pressure of 952 mb was measured in Fort Pierce. A storm surge of 8–10 feet was felt along the coast of the county.[18] A man was killed after being electrocuted from driving his truck into a downed power line. Damage in St. Lucie County is estimated at $1.2 billion (2004 USD).[16][15]
Indian River County
[edit]The most devastating impacts were in Indian River County, as the right eyewall of the storm passed through.
During the height of the storm, residents of the Fairlane Harbor neighborhood in Vero Beach, located at the intersection of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge and Indian River Boulevard, were forced to evacuate due to extensive flooding.[4]
High storm surge of 6–8 feet occurred, causing significant beach erosion on Orchid Island. However, storm surge impacts were less than anticipated, as Jeanne made landfall during low tide.[19] Storm surge caused an estimated $8 million in damage in the Treasure Coast.[18]
A wind gust of 122 miles per hour (196 km/h) was reported in Vero Beach, causing a Beechcraft Bonanza plane to be flipped over a perimeter fence at the Vero Beach Regional Airport.[20] A wind gust of 116 miles per hour (187 km/h) was reported in Sebastian.
An F1 tornado spawned in West Vero Corridor near SR 60, causing more than $20,000 (2004 USD) in damage. Over 8,000 residences in the county were damaged or destroyed, and 41,000 residences were damaged by Jeanne in Indian River County.
An elderly woman was injured when attempting to evacuate her home in Indian River Shores, she died from her injuries later in the hospital.[21] Wind damage estimates from Jeanne are placed at $2 billion (2004 USD) in Indian River County.[15][16][19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Max Chesnes (September 19, 2024). "Hurricane Jeanne: 20 years later, its impact still felt on Florida's Treasure Coast". TCPalm. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ "Hurricane Jeanne" (PDF). National Weather Service Melbourne. 2004. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ESTIMATE - $1.2 BILLION. [...] INDIAN RIVER COUNTY PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ESTIMATE - $2.0 BILLION. [...] MARTIN COUNTY PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ESTIMATE - $50 MILLION.
- ^ "CPI Inflation Calculator". data.bls.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b "Treasure Coast Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts". subscribe.tcpalm.com. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2004). Hurricane Jeanne Discussion Number 21. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-04-16.
- ^ Stacey Stewart (2004). Hurricane Jeanne Public Advisory Number 29. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-04-16.
- ^ a b Miles B. Lawrence and Hugh D. Cobb (2005). NHC Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Jeanne - 13-28 September 2004. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on May 22, 2015.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2004). Hurricane Jeanne Public Advisory Number 47A. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-04-16.
- ^ Lixion Avila (2004). Hurricane Jeanne Public Advisory Number 28. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-04-16.
- ^ Richard Pasch (2004). Hurricane Jeanne Discussion Number 50. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-04-16.
- ^ Floods, floating coffins left in Jeanne's wake. Retrieved on 2009-04-16.
- ^ FL, NWS Tampa Bay Area (2024-08-11). "The 2004 Hurricane Season". ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Jeanne Hits Florida Hard - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2004-09-27. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ "Hurricane JEANNE". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b c d "Hurricane Jeanne" (PDF). NOAA.
- ^ a b c "NCDC: Event Details". www4.ncdc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ^ NOAA https://www.weather.gov/media/mlb/research/2006_extreme_hurr_winds.pdf. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ a b "NCDC: Event Details". www4.ncdc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b News, Chris Bonanno For Hometown (2023-09-27). "A look back at a wild 2004 hurricane season". Hometown News Treasure Coast. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Ledger, DIANE LACEY ALLEN The. "HURRICANE JEANNE DEVASTATES VERO BEACH RESIDENTS; COASTAL COMMUNITY SUFFERS FLOODING, POWER OUTAGES, STRUCTURAL DAMAGE". The Ledger. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ^ Franklin, James L. (March 17, 2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Jeanne (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2025-07-23.