Hurricane Janet 1955

The first destruction in the islands

Janet formed east of the Lesser Antilles on 21 September and strengthened as it approached Barbados and the Windward Islands. It passed south of Barbados and between Grenada and Carriacou, damaging homes, crops and communications. Relief ships later brought food and other supplies to the affected islands.

Across the Caribbean

After a period of weakening in the eastern Caribbean, Janet intensified again as it moved west. A reconnaissance aircraft, Snowcloud Five, disappeared during a mission into the hurricane with eleven people aboard. Janet reached Category 5 strength on 27 September and peak one-minute sustained winds of 150 kt at 00:00 UTC on 28 September.

Category 5 landfall near Chetumal

Janet struck near Chetumal, Mexico, at its peak intensity early on 28 September. The archive records 150 kt and a central pressure of 914 hPa at 05:00 UTC. The hurricane devastated southern Quintana Roo and nearby British Honduras, now Belize. In Chetumal, the historical account reports that only five buildings remained intact.

An estimated 500 people died in Quintana Roo. Communities in British Honduras also suffered extensive destruction, prompting a program to rebuild 48 villages. Relief crews established food depots and restored emergency communications, and officials built an airstrip to speed deliveries to Corozal.

A second landfall and widespread flooding

Janet weakened across the Yucatán Peninsula, then crossed the Bay of Campeche and made another landfall north of Veracruz on 29 September. Its rain worsened flooding left by hurricanes Gladys and Hilda. Floodwater stranded thousands around Tampico, where at least 326 people died, and aircraft and helicopters carried supplies and evacuated residents.

The historical storm total is at least 1,023 direct deaths and US$65.8 million in damage in 1955 dollars. Reconstruction extended across the Caribbean and Mexico. In Barbados, the destruction of low-income housing helped lead to a new housing authority and rebuilding with stronger materials.