Hurricane Betsy

Hurricane Betsy was a powerful storm of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season, which caused enormous damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana.

Related Topics:
1965 Atlantic hurricane season - Bahamas - Florida - Louisiana

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Betsy was one of the most intense, deadly, and costly storms to make landfall in the United States. It was just short of Category 5 strength at landfall in Louisiana, and killed 76 people. Betsy caused $1.42 billion in damage, which when adjusted for inflation amounts to $8.5 billion (2000 dollars), placing it as the eighth most expensive storm to make landfall in the U.S. The storm is nicknamed "Billion-Dollar Betsy" because it was the first in the U.S. to have damages to exceed that amount.

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Among Atlantic Basin hurricanes, Betsy is also notable for a large eye (40 miles diameter) at U.S. landfall on Key Largo in the Florida Keys, and for a track that included two complete loops.

Related Topics:
Key Largo - Florida Keys

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Betsy is comparable to 2005's Hurricane Katrina, which followed a similar path but caused more extensive damage and casualties in New Orleans. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 also followed a very similar path.

Related Topics:
2005 - Hurricane Katrina - Hurricane Andrew

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