Hurricane Donna and Cape Coral, 1960

By Brenton Miebach, REALTOR® | Updated October 5, 2026

Hurricane Donna came ashore on Southwest Florida on September 10, 1960, when Cape Coral was only about three years old. The National Weather Service lists gusts to 121 mph at Fort Myers. Accounts of the damage in Cape Coral differ, from five homes seriously damaged to thirty roofs lost, by the company’s count. This page is part of our history of Cape Coral.

Photo: The Surfside Coffee Shop, a gathering place in early Cape Coral. The Surfside also served as a storm shelter. Restored and colorized from Lies That Came True by Eileen Bernard. Colors are added digitally.

Cape Coral in 1960 was brand new

Gulf American began building Cape Coral in 1957 and 1958. The first homes were finished in 1958, according to Wikipedia. A local history book from Arcadia Publishing puts the population near 500 around 1960. Most of the land was still being dredged and filled.

The storm

Donna crossed the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane in the early hours of September 10, 1960. It then came ashore again on the Southwest Florida coast, south of Naples, and moved toward Fort Myers. The National Weather Service lists the eye passing near Fort Myers at about 3 p.m.

At Fort Myers the weather service lists winds up to 92 mph, with gusts to 121 mph. Storm surge ran 4 to 7 feet above normal along the southwest coast, and one source says up to 11 feet.

The book says the wind pushed water out of the canals and the river.

The Surfside shelter

The Arcadia history says Gulf American arranged shelter. Some people were bused out. Others stayed at the Nautilus Motel and the Surfside Restaurant. A 2017 Cape Coral history says the Surfside, which opened in August 1959, served as an emergency shelter and ran on generator power.

The book says about 80 people sheltered at the Surfside.

How bad was the damage

Accounts differ. The book quotes the company as saying it lost thirty roofs. The Arcadia history says only five homes had serious damage, with torn screens and broken windows elsewhere and no injuries. The 2017 history says several homes were badly damaged and one was destroyed. Across the river, Fort Myers had about $3 million in damage, according to Wikipedia.

What changed afterward

The book says building rules tightened after Donna, and that missing hurricane straps were behind some lost roofs. Building rules have changed many times since 1960, and any specific home should be checked on its own records.

For today’s questions about storms and flood risk, see our guide to Cape Coral flood zones and flood insurance. This page is history, not advice about any one property.

Hurricane Donna and Cape Coral FAQ

When did Hurricane Donna hit Cape Coral?

On September 10, 1960. The National Weather Service lists the eye passing near Fort Myers at about 3 p.m. that day.

How strong were the winds?

At Fort Myers the National Weather Service lists winds up to 92 mph with gusts to 121 mph. Donna was a Category 4 hurricane when it crossed the Keys.

Did the canals run dry?

The book says wind pushed water out of the canals.

How bad was the damage in Cape Coral?

Sources differ. One says five homes were seriously damaged. The book quotes the company as saying thirty roofs were lost. Another history says one home was destroyed.

Did Donna change how Cape Coral builds?

The book says building rules tightened afterward. Building rules have changed many times since.

Sources

• National Weather Service Miami, Hurricane Donna
• National Weather Service Miami, Donna summary (PDF)
• NOAA National Hurricane Center, 1956 to 1960 reanalysis (PDF)
• Wikipedia, Hurricane Donna
• Hurricane Science, Donna
• Captiva and Sanibel Island Sun, Cape Coral, a dream taking shape
• Arcadia Publishing, Cape Coral (book listing)
• Wikipedia, Cape Coral, Florida
• Eileen Bernard, Lies That Came True (book)

Eileen Bernard worked in Gulf American’s publicity department, so her book is an insider’s account of Cape Coral’s early years. We use it alongside the other sources listed here.