In the Sunshine State on this day in 1565 Continuing with the observations of Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, Laudonniere and Fort Caroline.

“The second (and what gave us the greatest assurance) was that later the next day (September 12) there came so great a hurricane that the French could not save themselves from destruction by the sea, being close to shore. Our galleon and its companion were not lost because they went out at midnight so that when the storm struck they were more than a dozen leagues at sea with room to maneuver until God provided better weather.”

In 1960 Today, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared the Florida Keys and parts of Central Florida “disaster areas” following the more than $1 billion in damages wrought by Hurricane Donna.