Hurricane Kate formed northeast of Puerto Rico on November 15, 1985, as
the eleventh named storm of the annual hurricane season. Kate made its
first landfall on the northern coast of Cuba at Category 2 intensity,
then emerged as a slightly weaker storm during the evening hours of
November 19. Heavy rainfall in Cuba caused numerous mudslides and
flooding, killing 10 people and leading to severe agricultural damage.
Wind gusts also damaged crops, and resulted in widespread power outages
and significant building damage; the cost in Cuba totaled $400 million,
the most from a hurricane strike on that island in many decades. Once
clear of land, Kate intensified to Category 3, and the following day it
attained its peak winds of around 120 mph (195 km/h). It came ashore
near Mexico Beach, Florida, as a minimal Category 2 hurricane with
winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) on November 21, the latest day ever in an
Atlantic hurricane season that a hurricane-strength storm has struck the
United States. There were 17 deaths attributable to the storm, in
Jamaica and Cuba, and the total damage caused was at least
$700 million.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Kate_(1985)>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
565:
On his deathbed, Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I informed his
chamberlain that his nephew Justin II was to be his successor.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_II>
1864:
American Civil War: Union Army General William T. Sherman began
his "March to the Sea", inflicting significant damage to property and
infrastructure on his way from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman>
1889:
Brazilian Emperor Pedro II was overthrown in a coup led by
Deodoro da Fonseca, and Brazil was proclaimed a republic.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_and_fall_of_Pedro_II_of_Brazil>
1943:
The Holocaust: Heinrich Himmler ordered that Romanies were to
be put "on the same level as Jews and placed in concentration camps".
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porajmos>
1988:
The Soviet Buran spacecraft, a reusable vehicle built in
response to NASA's Space Shuttle program, was launched, unmanned, on her
only flight.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_(spacecraft)>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
philanthropy:
1. (chiefly uncountable) Benevolent altruism with the intention of
increasing the well-being of mankind.
2. (uncountable) Charitable giving, charity.
3. (countable) A philanthropic act.
4. (countable) A charitable foundation.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/philanthropy>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
There is no greater mindlessness and absurdity than to force
conscience and the spirit with external power, when only their creator
has authority for them.
--Ferenc Dávid
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ferenc_D%C3%A1vid>