Hurricane

What did Cat 3 Hurricane Betsy do to Miami and the Florida Keys in 1965? See for yourself

Hurricane Betsy damage in Miami-Dade.
Hurricane Betsy damage in Miami-Dade. Miami Herald File

Hurricane Betsy hit the Florida Keys and the Miami area on Sept. 8, 1965. It made a mess of things.

Stores got flooded. Fish swam down the streets. Water sloshed through hotel lobbies. Boats sunk, planes flipped and buildings came apart.

Betsy crossed the Florida Keys near Key Largo as a Category 3 hurricane around 6 a.m., according to the National Hurricane Center.

Let’s take a look at photos from the archive of the Miami Herald showing the damage from the storm:

A huge 90-foot pleasure boat and a tug were among these boats sunk in the harbor at Key West Hurricane Betsy roared across the Southernmost City.
A huge 90-foot pleasure boat and a tug were among these boats sunk in the harbor at Key West Hurricane Betsy roared across the Southernmost City. Miami Herald File
Hurricane Betsy whips South Florida.
Hurricane Betsy whips South Florida. Bill Kuenzel Miami Herald File
Hurricane Betsy damage at Fairchild Tropical Garden in Coral Gables.
Hurricane Betsy damage at Fairchild Tropical Garden in Coral Gables. Miami Herald File
The aftermath of Hurricane Betsy at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables.
The aftermath of Hurricane Betsy at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables. Miami Herald File
Hurricane Betsy on weather radarscope with overlay of area eye at right just over Nassau.
Hurricane Betsy on weather radarscope with overlay of area eye at right just over Nassau. Bob East Miami Herald File
Hurricane Betsy in Key West.
Hurricane Betsy in Key West. Miami Herald File
Hurricane Betsy lashes Florida.
Hurricane Betsy lashes Florida. Miami Herald File
Rugs and furniture are spread out to dry at a Key Biscayne shopping center after being soaked by the churning water from Hurricane Betsy.
Rugs and furniture are spread out to dry at a Key Biscayne shopping center after being soaked by the churning water from Hurricane Betsy. Eamon Kennedy Miami Herald File
A flooded Florida street from Hurricane Betsy.
A flooded Florida street from Hurricane Betsy. Miami Herald File
Hurricane Betsy at the Hurricane Harbor restaurant in North Miami.
Hurricane Betsy at the Hurricane Harbor restaurant in North Miami. John Pineda Miami Herald File
Hurricane Betsy Plane toppled planes at Broward’s airport.
Hurricane Betsy Plane toppled planes at Broward’s airport. Miami Herald File
Jordan Marsh’s main floor after Hurricane Betsy it Miami.
Jordan Marsh’s main floor after Hurricane Betsy it Miami. Miami Herald File
In the Jordan Marsh auditorium in Miami, workers sort out clothes after Hurricane Betsy
In the Jordan Marsh auditorium in Miami, workers sort out clothes after Hurricane Betsy Miami Herald File
Miami Herald photographer Albert Coya during Hurricane Betsy in Miami.
Miami Herald photographer Albert Coya during Hurricane Betsy in Miami. Miami Herald File
Leftover Betsy Three months after Hurricane Betsy, trash and debris is piled high in Miami Beach near hotels at 36th Street.
Leftover Betsy Three months after Hurricane Betsy, trash and debris is piled high in Miami Beach near hotels at 36th Street. Bob East Miami Herald File
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Jeff Kleinman
Miami Herald
305-376-3561
Consumer Team Editor Jeff Kleinman oversees coverage for health, shopping, real estate, tourism and recalls/scams/fraud.
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