Lake Okeechobee, in South Central Florida just north of the Everglades, is the second largest freshwater lake wholly within the U. S.  It covers seven hundred fifty square miles. In early September of 1928, Seminole runners were sent out by the council to warn the white settlements in the LakeOkeechobee vicinity to leave this area quickly . . ."Bad storm come soon, many big wind, many water, much bad . . . Go !" But the people did not heed this warning. The Seminole departed in all haste,  leaving behind dire predictions. On September 12 17, a hurricane sweeping out of the West Indies virtually lifted the waters from the lake bed and sent them swirling down onto the adjacent countryside. Hundreds upon hundreds were drowned. Now earthen levees surround Lake Okeechobee. But when the wild winds roam, people look at the earth dams and think of their home. Click here to go back