View source for Hurricane Fifi–Orlene

{{short description|Category 2 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane in 1974}}
{{Other hurricanes|List of storms named Fifi|the 1974 hurricane|List of storms named Orlene}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Hurricane Fifi.JPG
| caption =  Fifi at peak intensity just north of [[Honduras]] on September 18
| alt = Low-resolution satellite image of a tropical cyclone to the east of Central America
| formed = September 14, 1974
| dissipated = September 24, 1974
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 95
| pressure = 971
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1974
| fatalities = 8,210<br/><small>([[List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes|3rd-deadliest Atlantic hurricane]] on record)</small>
| damage = 1800000000
| areas = [[Puerto Rico]], [[Hispaniola]], [[Jamaica]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Honduras]], [[Belize]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], Mexico, [[Arizona]]
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1974 Atlantic hurricane season|1974 Atlantic]] and<br>[[1974 Pacific hurricane season|Pacific hurricane]] seasons
}}

'''Hurricane Fifi''', later known as '''Hurricane Orlene''', was a catastrophic [[tropical cyclone]] that killed over 8,000 people in Honduras in September 1974, ranking it as the third deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record, only behind [[Hurricane Mitch]] in [[1998 Atlantic hurricane season|1998]], and the [[Great Hurricane of 1780|1780 hurricane]]. Fifi is also the first [[List of costliest Atlantic hurricanes|billion-dollar hurricane]] not to make landfall in the [[United States]]. Originating from a strong [[tropical wave]] on September&nbsp;14, the system steadily tracked west-northwestward through the eastern Caribbean. On September&nbsp;16, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Fifi just off the coast of [[Jamaica]]. The storm quickly intensified into a hurricane the following afternoon and attained its peak intensity on September&nbsp;18 as a strong [[Category 2 hurricane]]. Maintaining hurricane intensity, Fifi brushed the northern coast of [[Honduras]] before making landfall in [[Belize]] the following day. The storm quickly weakened after landfall, becoming a depression late on September&nbsp;20. Continuing westward, the former hurricane began to interact with another system in the [[Pacific hurricane|eastern Pacific]].

Early on September&nbsp;22, Fifi re-attained tropical storm status before fully regenerating into a new tropical cyclone, Tropical Storm Orlene. Orlene traveled in an arced path toward Mexico while quickly intensifying into a Category 2 hurricane before landfall. The storm weakened after landfall and dissipated fully during the afternoon of September&nbsp;24 over the mountains of Mexico. Along its path, Fifi impacted nine countries, leaving over 8,200 fatalities and $1.8&nbsp;billion (1974 USD; ${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1800000000|1974}}}} {{#time:Y}}&nbsp;USD) in damages. Most of the loss of life and damage occurred in Honduras where rainfall from the hurricane, peaking around {{convert|24|in|mm|abbr=on}}, triggered widespread [[flash flood]]ing and [[mudslide]]s.

In a single town, between 2,000 and 5,000 people were killed overnight after a massive flood inundated the area. Fifi brought continuous rainfall to the area for three days, hampering relief efforts in what was the worst disaster in Honduras' history at the time. In nearby [[Guatemala]], an additional 200 people were killed by severe flooding, making Fifi the worst hurricane to impact the country in nearly 20 years. Following the catastrophic damage wrought by the storm, relief agencies from around the world flew in emergency supplies to assist the hundreds of thousands of homeless people. Countries closer to Honduras, such as the United States, set up city donation centers that would send supplies to the country. In efforts to prevent the spread of post-storm diseases, the government allowed the burning of bodies as they were recovered. In a single day, up to 6,000 bodies were burned. Due to the extreme damage and loss of life, the name was retired from the list of Atlantic hurricane names and has not been used since.

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Fifi-Orlene 1974 track.png|left|alt=A map of Central America depicting a storm track which begins south of Puerto Rico and heads westward, crossing into the Pacific before turning north and striking the coast of the Mexican mainland.}}
Hurricane Fifi originated from a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on September&nbsp;8. As the storm entered the Atlantic, satellite imagery showed that the system was already well-developed. Traveling westward, the wave entered the Caribbean Sea by September&nbsp;13. Soon after emerging into the Caribbean, [[Atmospheric convection|convective activity]] quickly increased. The following day, a US Navy [[reconnaissance aircraft]] flew into the system and found a developing [[Low-pressure area|low-level circulation]]. Operationally, the system was not declared a tropical depression by the [[National Hurricane Center]] (NHC) until late on September&nbsp;15;<ref name="PR1">{{cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=1975|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Hurricane Fifi Preliminary Report Page One|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1974-prelim/fifi/prelim01.gif}}</ref> however, in the [[HURDAT|Atlantic hurricane database]], it was determined that it had become a tropical depression during the afternoon of September&nbsp;14.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} The NHC initially forecast the depression to continue its west-northwest track, eventually brushing Cuba,<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|newspaper=Boca Raton News|date=September 16, 1974|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Weather|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=svwPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2312,1879879&dq=storm+fifi+jamaica&hl=en}}</ref> although the storm never took the northerly turn.<ref name="HURDAT"/>

The depression continued to organize as it turned westward, and late on September 16 the system intensified into Tropical Storm Fifi while just south of Jamaica.<ref name="PR1"/><ref name="HURDAT"/> As it moved due west, the storm intensified, attaining hurricane status roughly 24&nbsp;hours after being named<ref name="HURDAT"/> following the formation of an [[Eye (cyclone)|eyewall feature]].<ref name="Longshore180"/> At that time, the storm was asymmetrical, with gale-force winds extending up to {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the north and up to {{convert|50|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the south.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=The Evening Independent|date=September 17, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=Hurricane Fifi|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GeMLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6709,286011&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718105845/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GeMLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JlgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6709,286011&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> The storm turned slightly southwestward, and by September&nbsp;18, Fifi reached its peak intensity with [[maximum sustained wind]]s of {{convert|110|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and a [[barometric pressure]] of 971 mbar (hPa; {{convert|971|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}). This made Fifi a high-end [[Category 2 hurricane]] on the [[Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale]],<ref name="PR1"/><ref name="HURDAT"/> which had been adopted the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|author = Jack Williams| title = Hurricane scale invented to communicate storm danger | work=[[USA Today]] | date = May 17, 2005| access-date = November 8, 2009 | url= https://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/whscale.htm}}</ref> Around this time, the hurricane had nearly doubled in size, with a gale diameter now covering an area {{convert|300|mi|km|abbr=on}} across.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=Toledo Blade|date=September 17, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=Hurricane Fifi Near Honduras|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BXMUAAAAIBAJ&pg=3022,1967148&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

[[File:Orlene1974.gif|thumb|right|Hurricane Orlene on September 23 just prior to its landfall upon northwest Mexico]]
Although earlier in the season [[Hurricane Carmen]] had attained [[Category 4 hurricane|Category 4 status]] in a similar location, Fifi was unable to intensify further due to its proximity to land. Most of the southern portion of the circulation was inhibited by the mountains of Honduras as it passed within {{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=on}} of the coast.<ref name="PR2">{{cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=1975|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Hurricane Fifi Preliminary Report Page 2|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1974-prelim/fifi/prelim02.gif}}</ref> Fifi maintained its peak intensity for roughly 24&nbsp;hours until it began to weaken shortly before making landfall near [[Placencia]], Belize with winds of {{convert|105|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="PR1"/><ref name="HURDAT"/> After moving inland, the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm and further deteriorated into a tropical depression once it moved over southwestern Mexico late on September&nbsp;20.<ref name="PR1"/><ref name="HURDAT"/> Two days later, the former hurricane emerged back over water near [[Acapulco]], Mexico, becoming the third known tropical cyclone to traverse Central America and enter the [[Pacific hurricane|northeastern Pacific hurricane basin]].<ref name="FAQE15">{{cite web|author1=Stephen Caparotta |author2=D. Walston |author3=Steven Young |author4=Gary Padgett |publisher=National Hurricane Center|year=2009|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Subject: E15) What tropical storms and hurricanes have moved from the Atlantic to the Northeast Pacific or vice versa? |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E15.html}}</ref> When it moved back over open waters, Fifi re-attained tropical storm status; however, it only maintained this intensity for 18&nbsp;hours before being renamed Orlene.<ref name="PR1"/><ref name="HURDAT"/> There is disagreement amongst tropical cyclone forecasting agencies as to the role Fifi played in Orlene's development.<ref name="EPHC">{{cite web|author=Sharon Towry|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=1975|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones in 1974: Part 2|url=http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/103/6/pdf/i1520-0493-103-6-550.pdf}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

After the formation or merger of the systems, Orlene began to intensify. During the afternoon of September&nbsp;23, the storm intensified into a hurricane as it quickly traveled towards the north-northeast.<ref name="HURDAT2">{{cite web|author=Hurricane Specialists Division |publisher=National Hurricane Center |year=2009 |access-date=November 8, 2009 |title=Eastern Pacific Best Tracks, 1949–2008 |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1949to2008_epa.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715133317/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1949to2008_epa.txt |archive-date=July 15, 2009 }}</ref> Shortly before making landfall, a small eye developed within the center of the hurricane, resulting in the NHC upgrading it to a Category 2 storm with maximum winds of {{convert|105|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="HURDAT"/> However, the EPHC reported that the storm peaked with winds of {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Rapid weakening took place following the storm's landfall,<ref name="EPHC"/> degenerating into a remnant low just six hours after moving inland. The remnant system persisted for several more hours before dissipating over the mountains of Mexico.<ref name="HURDAT2"/>

==Preparations and impacts==
===Greater Antilles===
On September&nbsp;15, the [[Government of Jamaica]] began preparing for potential impacts from the storm. Residents were advised to be aware of possible rain squalls in association with the storm.<ref name="Longshore180"/> Additionally, small craft advisories were issued due to rough seas produced by the then-tropical depression.<ref name="TL1"/> Passing south of Jamaica as a tropical storm, Fifi brought heavy rains to the mountainous island, exceeding {{convert|8|in|mm|abbr=on}} in some locations. Severe flooding affected parts of [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], leaving some areas under {{convert|2|ft|m|abbr=on}} of water. Damages from the storm amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars, although no loss of life was reported.<ref name="Longshore180"/> In nearby [[Hispaniola]], the system produced moderate rainfall that triggered flash flooding.<ref name="TL1">{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=The Ledger|date=September 15, 1974|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Tropical Depression May Grow|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YOsTAAAAIBAJ&pg=3721,4580262&dq=storm+fifi+jamaica&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Small craft advisories were also issued for portions of southern Cuba as Fifi bypassed Jamaica.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=The Times-News|date=September 16, 1974|access-date=April 28, 2010|title=Tropical Storm Fifi Seen Near Jamaica|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aRsaAAAAIBAJ&dq=fifi%20jamaica&pg=5041%2C1222027|page=8}}</ref> Ships were advised to remain in port throughout the [[Cayman Islands]] as residents began to prepare for hurricane-force winds.<ref>{{cite news|author=United Press International|work=Bangor Daily News|date=September 17, 1974|access-date=April 28, 2010|title=Storm Fifi expected to intensify|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5YgzAAAAIBAJ&dq=fifi%20jamaica&pg=1843%2C568369|page=40}}</ref>

===Honduras===
{{Deadliest Atlantic hurricanes|align=right}}
Fifi first became a threat to Honduras on September&nbsp;17 when the storm reached hurricane strength, at which point forecasters revised their forecasts to anticipate landfall in Honduras or Nicaragua on September&nbsp;18 or 19. In response, officials in Honduras urged hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate from coastal and flood-prone areas. Despite the warning, relatively few heeded these evacuation orders, likely playing a role in the large loss of life following the storm.<ref name="Longshore180"/>

During the first day of the hurricane's onslaught, the region experienced winds of up to {{convert|132|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and unrelenting rainfall.<ref name="Longshore180"/> The first reports of damage from the Honduran government via radio stated that 14 people had been killed while over 100 were missing.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|date=September 19, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Fifi Slams Honduras, Kills 14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ymcRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6586,4632204&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712063245/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ymcRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4ucDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6586,4632204&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> In just 24&nbsp;hours, 182 towns and villages were completely destroyed. According to the [[Red Cross]], between 800 and 1,200 people died within 12&nbsp;hours of Fifi's landfall in Honduras. Buses driving through mountain passes skidded off the sides of cliffs due to slick roads, killing numerous people. [[Flash flood]]s destroyed thousands of homes and isolated numerous towns. Waves, reaching {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}} in height, destroyed moorings and grounded numerous ships.<ref name="Longshore180"/>

Continuous rain fell throughout September&nbsp;19, resulting in widespread mudslides that killed over 2,000 people.<ref name="PT1"/> A large mudslide blocked the Choloma River, preventing water from the river and the accumulated {{convert|20|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain caused by Fifi from reaching the ocean.<ref name="Longshore180"/><ref name="PT1"/> The waters were released from this natural dam on September 20, when a concrete bridge broke upstream and tore through the mudslide. The torrent of water flowed down the valley, triggering a massive flood.<ref name="PT1"/> The city of [[Choloma]] was decimated, with an estimated 2,800–5,000 people killed out of a population of 7,000.<ref name="Longshore180"/><ref name="TPC1"/> The flood occurred during the nighttime, so most residents were unaware of the impending catastrophe.<ref name="BRN1"/>

[[File:Hurricane Fifi Radar image.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Weather radar|Radar image]] of Hurricane Fifi nearing landfall in Belize|alt=A radar image depicting a mature and well-formed storm, with a pronounced eye at the center and curved bands.]]
Other towns along the coast suffered similar fates as Choloma. In Armenta, roughly 400 families disappeared after a large landslide buried the town. However, the town is hardly known by people in the country and reports from the area were scarce. Another coastal town, [[Omoa]] (population of 2,500 to 3,000) was completely destroyed overnight on September&nbsp;19. All of the residents were assumed to have perished; however, like Armenta, few people know of the town and estimates of the fatalities in it ranged from 30 to 3,000.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|work=The Miami Herald|date=September 24, 1974|access-date=April 28, 2010|title=Outside Nations Bring Supplies For Hondurans|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0192-jpg/1974/atlantic/fifi/news/mh12a.jpg|page=12A}}</ref>

Although by this time the storm was situated inland over Mexico, its circulation continued to produce thunderstorms over Honduras, hindering rescue efforts. Nighttime rescues were prevented by dense fog blanketing most of the mountain valleys.<ref name="Longshore180"/> The city of [[La Ceiba]], population 53,000, was completely isolated from surrounding areas. Many were feared dead as newspapers reported bodies floating down rivers.<ref name="TPC1">{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=The Prescott Courier|date=September 22, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Hurricane Fif Kills 7,000|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hgcLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3681,4789197&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124233405/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hgcLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WVADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3681,4789197&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2013}}</ref>

The death toll rose by the hundreds every day; at one point, the official death toll was estimated as high as 10,000.<ref name="Longshore181"/> There is still uncertainty in the total number of fatalities due to Fifi. In general, however, most estimates range from 8,000 to 10,000. Overall this ranked Fifi as the second-deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record at the time.<ref name="NOAADeadliest">{{cite web|author1=Edward N. Rappaport |author2=Jose Fernandez-Partagas |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=May 28, 1995|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadly.shtml?}}</ref> It was eventually lowered to third after [[Hurricane Mitch]] in [[1998 Atlantic hurricane season|1998]] wrought similar destruction in the same region, leaving between 11,000 and 18,000 dead.<ref>{{cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=1999|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Mitch: The Deadliest Atlantic Hurricane Since 1780|url=http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/mitch/mitch.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717103126/http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/mitch/mitch.html|archive-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref>

Throughout the country, Fifi inflicted nearly $1.8&nbsp;billion (1974 USD; ${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1800000000|1974}}}} {{#time:Y}}&nbsp;USD) as part of what was, at the time, the worst natural disaster in Honduras' history. Due to the damage that Fifi caused, Fifi is the costliest Atlantic Hurricane to reach a maximum of Category 2.<ref name="PT1"/> In certain coastal regions, only structures built on higher elevations were left standing. Many cities were more than 80% destroyed.<ref name="TPC1"/> Fifi demolished over 10,000 well-constructed homes throughout Honduras.<ref name="BRN1"/>  An estimated 150,000 people were left homeless due to Fifi.<ref name="PT1">{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=September 24, 1974|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Aid Efforts Start For Honduras, Fifi Deaths Soar|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9kMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7351,3121666&dq=hurricane+fifi+aid&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="NHCMN23">{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=Miami News|date=September 23, 1974|access-date=November 11, 2009|title=Honduras Burns Bodies, 10,000 Feared Dead|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0192-jpg/1974/atlantic/fifi/news/mnsept23.jpg}}</ref> However, the Honduran government estimated that between 350,000 and 500,000 were left homeless.<ref>{{cite web|author=Stanly Meisler|work=Miami News|date=September 27, 1974|access-date=November 11, 2009|title=Hurricane Devastation Real; Death Toll Inflated|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0192-jpg/1974/atlantic/fifi/news/mh6b2.jpg}}</ref> The country's [[Banana production in Honduras|banana crop]] was completely destroyed by the hurricane; as a result, its economy was severely affected.<ref name="Longshore180"/>

===Elsewhere in Central America===
{{Wettest tropical cyclones in Nicaragua|align=right}}
Officials in Belize and Guatemala rushed to complete emergency precautions for the approaching hurricane.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=Ocala Star-Banner|date=September 18, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Hurricane Fifi Soaks Honduras|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lh8VAAAAIBAJ&pg=4287,4437877&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712163356/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lh8VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4287,4437877&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> Much of Central America north of Nicaragua was impacted by the hurricane. Rainfall reaching {{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on}} affected areas as far north as [[Campeche|Campeche, Mexico]].<ref name="Longshore180"/> At [[Chinandega]], Nicaragua, rainfall from the storm amounted to {{convert|14.5|in|mm|abbr=on}} over a four-day period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ineter.gob.ni/geofisica/proyectos/INVUR/INVUR%202004%20%28Fase%20III%29/07.%20Chinandega/Informe%20municipal/1.%20Lotificaci%F3n%20Luis%20Anduray%20Chinanadega.pdf|page=11|author=Wilfried Strauch|publisher=Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (INETER)|title=Evaluación de las Amenazas Geológicas e Hidrometeorológicas para Sitios de Urbanización|date=November 2004|access-date=November 7, 2009|language=es}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The heavy precipitation led to significant flooding across the country as dozens of rivers exceeded their banks; hundreds were left homeless. The communities of [[La Conquista, Nicaragua|La Conquista]], [[Dulce Nombre]], San Gregorio and San Vicente were isolated by flood waters after roads leading to them were washed away. In Chiquito, Izapa and Tamarindo, more than ten homes were destroyed and 50 people left homeless due to the storm. After the Río Coco overflowed its banks in Jinotega, 120 homes were destroyed, leaving 113 families homeless. Numerous other communities sustained similar damage throughout the country, especially near the Honduras border.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff Writer |publisher=Dirección General de Meteorología |year=2004 |access-date=November 8, 2009 |title=huracán Fifí (1974) |url=http://www.ineter.gob.ni/Direcciones/meteorologia/Desastres/Huracanes/huracan_fifi.htm |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228200227/http://ineter.gob.ni/Direcciones/meteorologia/Desastres/Huracanes/huracan_fifi.htm |archive-date=February 28, 2009 }}</ref> Hundreds of people in the town of Wiwili clung to treetops and roofs along the Coco River.<ref name="BRN1">{{cite web|author=United Press International|work=Boca Raton News|date=September 22, 2009|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Hurricane Fifi, Her Fury Leaves 5,000 Dead in Central America|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t_wPAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080,2532782&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}}</ref>

Although the storm made landfall in [[Belize]], the country suffered considerably less damage than in nearby Honduras. However, winds up to {{convert|109|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} were recorded. The combination of winds and torrential rains damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes in Belize.<ref name="Longshore180"/> Waves along the coast reached {{convert|12|ft|m|abbr=on}} above normal. Although torrential rains exceeding {{convert|24|in|mm|abbr=on}} fell in nearby Honduras, only {{convert|6|in|mm|abbr=on}} fell in the country.<ref name="PR2"/> The country's $800,000 banana crop was completely destroyed by the storm.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=The Miami Herald|date=September 21, 1974|access-date=April 28, 2010|title=A Much-Deflated Fifi Moves into Mexico|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0192-jpg/1974/atlantic/fifi/news/mh18a.jpg|page=18A}}</ref> Despite the severity of the damage, there were no reports of fatalities in Belize.<ref name="Longshore180"/> In [[Guatemala]], the weakened storm brought extreme rainfall that caused extensive flash flooding. Numerous bridges, roads and homes were washed away or destroyed. At least 200 people were killed, making Fifi the deadliest in the country in nearly 20 years.<ref name="Longshore180">Longshore, p. 180</ref> In El Salvador, the outer bands of Fifi produced flooding rains that killed at least ten people.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=September 21, 1974|access-date=April 28, 2010|title=Floods Still Threaten Texas; Fifi in Mexico|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Wi0iAAAAIBAJ&dq=fifi%20mexico%20flood&pg=2971%2C1777116|page=7}}</ref>

===Mexico and Arizona===
As Fifi tracked over Central America, the outer fringes of the storm produced {{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rainfall as far north as [[Campeche]]. Mexico sustained little or no damage from Hurricane Fifi.<ref name="Longshore180"/> Once re-designated as Hurricane Orlene, however, the storm impacted the Pacific coast of Mexico as a Category&nbsp;2 hurricane.<ref name="HURDAT2"/> There were no reports of casualties or major damage.<ref name="PR2"/> In [[Acapulco]], reports indicated that {{convert|11|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell within a six-hour span.<ref name="PR1"/> Remnant moisture from the hurricane brought minor rainfall to portions of [[Arizona]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|newspaper=The Prescott Courier|date=September 24, 1974|access-date=November 8, 2009|title=Today's Weather|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iAcLAAAAIBAJ&pg=7232,4989170&dq=hurricane+orlene&hl=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712030845/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iAcLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WVADAAAAIBAJ&pg=7232,4989170&dq=hurricane+orlene&hl=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
{|class="wikitable" border="1" style="float:right;margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|+ '''Impact by area'''
|-
! scope=col| Region 
! scope=col| Direct deaths 
! scope=col| Damage
|-
| [[Jamaica]] || 0 || $1,000s
|-
| [[Honduras]] || 8,000–10,000 || $1.8&nbsp;billion
|-
| [[Nicaragua]] || 0 || ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Belize]] || 0 || $800,000+
|-
| [[El Salvador]] || 10 || ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Guatemala]] || 200 || ''Unknown''
|-
| Mexico || 0 || ''Unknown''
|-
! Total || 8,210+ || $1.8&nbsp;billion+
|}
===Response and assistance===
In the wake of the storm, relief agencies and the Honduras government were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster.<ref name="Longshore181"/> Rescue planes flown throughout the country reported that hundreds of bodies were floating in rivers and water covered areas once occupied by towns.<ref name="TPC1"/> For the first three days, relief efforts were generally minimal due to the extremely poor state of the roads across Honduras. Numerous countries send tonnes of aid to the battered country, although it was initially stockpiled by the government until it could be properly distributed.<ref name="Longshore181">Longshore, p. 181</ref> By September&nbsp;24, planes filled with relief supplies were being flown to Honduras from the United States, [[Cuba]], [[Costa Rica]], [[El Salvador]], Mexico, [[Guatemala]] and [[Venezuela]]. Relief crews, overwhelmed by the number of bodies, began taking desperate measures to prevent the spread of diseases. An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 bodies were burned by September&nbsp;24.<ref name="PT1"/>

Four helicopters supplied by the United States, from the [[Panama Canal]], quickly began rescue missions. They airlifted survivors from flood waters and placed them on elevated land areas. The crew members reported that the people were desperate to get on the helicopters and during one mission, 34 people crowded on to one of the aircraft, which has a normal capacity of 15. Food packages dropped to survivors were fought over, some people reportedly fighting each other with machetes for the supplies.<ref name="AHIH1">{{cite web|work=The Times|date=October 7, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=A Hurricane in Honduras (Page One)|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,943026,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508200919/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,943026,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref> During several of the later rescue missions, people died from starvation and malnutrition on board the helicopters.<ref>{{cite web|work=The Age|date=September 26, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=After Fifi, comes starvation|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w_0QAAAAIBAJ&pg=7054,5747846&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> From nearby Belize, Britain deployed 57 soldiers with motorboats to rush food to survivors in flooded regions. A group of 41 Cuban medical experts, including 21 doctors, treated nearly 900 in a period of two days.<ref name="AHIH2">{{cite web|work=The Times|date=October 7, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=A Hurricane in Honduras (Page Two)|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,943026-2,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510033229/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,943026-2,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 10, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Fifi1974filledrainblk.gif|thumb|right|Storm total rainfall for Fifi/Orlene in Mexico]]
By September&nbsp;24, more than 350,000 people sought refuge in shelters set up throughout the country.<ref>{{cite web|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 24, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=350,000 refugees from Fifi, U.S. begins relief task|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/607797002.html?dids=607797002:607797002&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+24%2C+1974&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=350%2C000+refugees+from+Fifi%2C+U.S.+begins+relief+task&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023131852/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/607797002.html?dids=607797002:607797002&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+24,+1974&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=350,000+refugees+from+Fifi,+U.S.+begins+relief+task&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2012}}</ref> Red Cross volunteers were overwhelmed by the number of families requesting help to find missing relatives.<ref>{{cite web|author=Carolyn Nolte-Watts|work=St. Petersburg Times|date=September 27, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Hondurna Relatives Anguish and Relief|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xvMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2610,1319734&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Relief planes sent by the United States were initially delayed by continued inclement weather. Several days after the storm's passage, they were able to land in the country. These planes were loaded with food, clothes, water, medicine and other emergency supplies.<ref name="BRN1"/> Juan Bautista described the disaster wrought by Fifi as "the worst moment in the nation's 150-year history since independence."<ref name="DC1">{{cite web|author=United Press International|work=Daily Collegian|date=September 23, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Hurricane Ravages Honduras|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1974/09/23&EntityId=Ar00100|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321134124/http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG%2F1974%2F09%2F23&EntityId=Ar00100|archive-date=March 21, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Donation centers were set up throughout major cities in the United States by the Honduran Government. They planned to fill three planes and five or six ships with supplies that would be brought to the country.<ref name="DC1"/> In [[Miami, Florida]], governor Reubin Askew asked all residents to donate to the Red Cross or Salvation Army to help those affected by the hurricane.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pasce Times Bureau|work=St. Petersburg Times|date=October 12, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=Relief funds are sought for hurricane survivors|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u_MNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3692,1221787&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In [[St. Petersburg, Florida]], a team of 14 doctors was sent to the country on October&nbsp;9.<ref>{{cite web|work=St. Petersburg Times|date=October 9, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=Second Fifi relief trip set|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9-MNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5266,3738847&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Other doctors set up fund drives, one set for $50,000; however, officials in Honduras believed that this would be nowhere near the necessary funds for what would become a multibillion-dollar disaster.<ref>{{cite web|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=September 23, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=$50,000 Sought Locally For Honduran Relief|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9UMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6308,2928058&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Numerous other nations and relief agencies joined in the effort to aid Honduras in what was considered one of the largest relief operations in history.<ref>{{cite web|author=United Press International|work=Rome News Tribune|date=September 22, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Hundreds perish from storm|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=arEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3525,2640498&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Days after the storm, brigades, deployed by the Honduran military, began to reach the hardest-hit areas as floodwaters started to recede.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=Ocala Star-Banner|date=September 20, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2009|title=Fifi Death Toll at 4,000|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mB8VAAAAIBAJ&pg=5266,4874328&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}}</ref>

From Miami alone, 14 tons of relief goods were donated to Honduras.<ref name="NHCMN23"/> Roughly a month after the storm struck, the United States had donated roughly 1.8&nbsp;million pounds (816,000&nbsp;kg) of relief supplies. Government agencies also began working on plans to revive the broken economy.<ref name="MN3"/> An initial plan costing $5&nbsp;million to restart the agricultural business was set up and another $15&nbsp;million was set to be given out as a two-year loan.<ref>{{cite web|author=Agency for International Development|publisher=United Nations|date=February 19, 1975|access-date=November 12, 2009|title=Loan agreement for hurricane rural reconstruction and recovery|url=http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/29/25/00057201.pdf}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> One group of people from a Baptist church in Texas spent $30,000 on a custom-designed food wagon to distribute food to the people of El Progreso. In some areas, residents did not know how to use certain supplies, such as toilet paper and tea bags, due to their culture and isolation from urban areas. "...a British helicopter team dropped toilet paper and tea bags to the people of El Progreso, who are unfamiliar with both items. Using the toilet paper as wrappers, the villagers smoked the tea."<ref name="MN3">{{cite web|author=Bill Doutheat|work=Miami News|date=October 1974|access-date=November 11, 2009|title=Road to recovery is long and muddy|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0192-jpg/1974/atlantic/fifi/news/mnunknown3.jpg}}</ref>

In Honduras, the Red Cross and other relief agencies quickly attempted to unload planes to assure that supplies would reach victims. However, some of the supplies were hoarded by the Honduran military as they quickly went to unload the planes. One of the incidents took place after a plane carrying supplies from Argentina landed and the military forced the volunteer members away from the plane. Once in the hands of the military, the fate of the supplies was unknown.<ref>{{cite web|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=October 14, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=Choking the Wells of Charity|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J-QNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2920,1762571&dq=hurricane+fifi&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> As the full amount of supplies did not reach victims, reports of people starving to death surfaced. Eventually, relief crews found these reports to be true as they distributed food to those who survived.<ref>{{cite web|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 25, 1974|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=Fifi survivors die of hunger|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/607799672.html?dids=607799672:607799672&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+25%2C+1974&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Fifi+survivors+die+of+hunger&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023144549/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/607799672.html?dids=607799672:607799672&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+25,+1974&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Fifi+survivors+die+of+hunger&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2012}}</ref>

Following the storm, the country's economy suffered for two years. During this time, the annual deficit reached $200&nbsp;million, against the annual income of $153&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|author=Alcira Kreimer|publisher=Virtual Library|year=1976|access-date=November 12, 2009|title=Housing Reconstruction in the Caribbean and Latin America|url=http://mona.uwi.edu/cardin/virtual_library/docs/1050/doc13440-contenido.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716205726/http://mona.uwi.edu/cardin/virtual_library/docs/1050/doc13440-contenido.pdf|archive-date=July 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rebuilding===
In 1977, a large-scale reconstruction project involving six villages across Honduras began. The first of the six project areas contained 121 homes with an average of 25 square meters of space. It was located along an important highway in northern Honduras; however, the rebuilding was initially delayed by erosion issues. The second plan consisted of 127 homes roughly a mile south of the first. The third, consisting of 26 concrete homes, was placed in the city of El Progreso. This project was determined to house the most people per home, roughly seven occupants for a preliminary total of 182 people. The fourth was the most isolated of the six planned constructions. In a rural area far outside urban regions, 92 homes were planned to be constructed. The fifth project, consisting of 33 homes, was placed close to the first project, having a similar access to the major highway. The final housing project, and largest, was set up south of the destroyed town of Choloma. A total of 600 homes, all built on concrete blocks and doubled up, were placed in this housing project.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Neil Snarr|author2=Leonard Brown|publisher=Mass Emergencies|year=1978|access-date=November 10, 2009|title=Post-Disaster Housing in Honduras After Hurricane Fifi: An Assessment|url=http://www.massemergencies.org/v3n4/Snarr_v3n4.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105181900/http://www.massemergencies.org/v3n4/Snarr_v3n4.pdf|archive-date=2009-01-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On October 3, 1974, Guatemalan businessmen Dionisio Gutiérrez and Alfonso Bosch died when they went by plane to support the victims of Hurricane Fifi–Orlene in Honduras. The plane was carrying a shipment of medicines that had been collected by the Rotary Club of Guatemala but was crashed by weather conditions and cargo near the village of Las Nubes. The descendants of the deceased, owners of companies such as [[Pollo Campero]], Avícola Villalobos and Empacadora Toledo created the [[Juan Bautista Gutierrez Foundation]] to centralize a series of social projects that they had carried out for several years.

===Retirement===
{{See also|List of retired Atlantic hurricane names}}
On account of the severe damage and high death toll from the hurricane in the Atlantic basin, the name ''Fifi'' was [[Tropical cyclone naming#Retirement|retired]] at the end of the 1974 season. It will never again be used to name a tropical storm in the basin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1974– Hurricane Fifi|url=https://hurricanescience.org/history/storms/1970s/fifi/|date=2020|publisher=University of Rhode Island|location=Kingston, Rhode Island|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones|Central America|Mexico}}
* [[List of Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes]]
* [[List of Category 2 Pacific hurricanes]]
* [[Hurricane Keith]] (2000)
* [[Hurricane Iris]] (2001)
* [[Hurricane Manuel]] (2013)
* [[Hurricane Nana (2020)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|author=Longshore, David|title=Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones New Edition|year=2008|publisher=Checkmark Books|isbn=978-0-8160-7409-9}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1974-prelim/fifi/ Hurricane Fifi Preliminary Report]

{{Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{List of Atlantic–Pacific crossover hurricanes}}
{{Retired Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{1974 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
{{1974 Pacific hurricane season buttons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifi (1974)}}
[[Category:1974 Atlantic hurricane season|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:1974 Pacific hurricane season|Fifi- Orlene]]
[[Category:Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:Category 2 Pacific hurricanes|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Belize|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Guatemala|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Honduras|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:Atlantic hurricanes in Mexico|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:Pacific hurricanes in Mexico|Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:Retired Atlantic hurricanes]]
[[Category:1974 in Mexico|Hurricane Fifi-Orlene]]
[[Category:September 1974 in North America]]