Hurricane Eloise Devastates Emerald Coast in 1975

Hurricane Eloise struck Fort Walton Beach as a Category 3 storm on September 23, 1975, killing dozens across the Caribbean and destroying nine of ten buildings south of U.S. 98 between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City. Storm surge reached 10.5 feet in Destin, and the newly built Okaloosa Island Pier was destroyed along with extensive sand dunes.

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