Mainland beach changes due to Hurricane Donna

The present writer and four of his students have carried out a detailed study of the Ten Thousand Island area of the lower west coast of Florida (see Fig. 1, ‘study area’). Field work, including collection of hundreds of sediment samples, was undertaken in June 1960; results of this work will be reported elsewhere. On September 10 and 11, 1960, hurricane Donna swept over Florida. The hurricane crossed the keys and Florida Bay, moved through the middle of the study area, and continued up the west coast almost to Tampa Bay before turning inland. The storm center shifted into the study area at about 0700 September 10, and out at about 1300 the same day. During this 6-hour period the storm center moved less than 50 miles, and a great deal of damage was done to houses, roads, causeways, trees, and beaches.