Memorial to 1928 Florida Storm Victims Largely Ignored

South Florida officials are considering improvements for a memorial and mass grave for hundreds of victims of the 1928 hurricane, still the deadliest natural disaster in state history.

A fence and marker were installed in 2003 at the West Palm Beach field where 674 victims of the hurricane were buried. Now, though, paint is peeling from those installations and the memorial is largely ignored by the public.

City Commissioner Sylvia Moffett tells The Palm Beach Post that neighbors aren’t sure whether adding amenities such as an amphitheater or restrooms would attract more park activity or constitute sacrilege.

Monday marked the 85th anniversary of the storm. The Category 4 hurricane knocked out the dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. At least 2,500 people died.