On September 17 in different years, Montserrat experienced three (3) major disasters; the 1965 Pan-American Airways crash in Chance’s Mountain claiming the lives of all aboard, 21 passengers and nine crew members; Powerful Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and the first terrifying explosion of the Soufriere Hills volcano in 1996.

Hurricane Hugo made landfall on Montserrat as a Category 4 hurricane on September 17, 1989, with maximum sustained winds estimated near 145 mph and wind gusts estimated over 180 mph.

Hurricane Hugo began as a tropical disturbance off the West African coast on September 9, 1989. It belongs to the class of storms known as Cape- Verde hurricanes, which are usually the largest and most forceful tropical storms. Travelling westward, the system was upgraded to a Tropical Storm on September 11, 1989, and was named Hugo. Hugo gained intensity while crossing the Atlantic, and by September 13, 1989, it had gained hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds in excess of 74 mph.

Rapidly intensifying, Hugo reached hurricane strength and pounded the Leeward Islands as a powerful Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Hugo was now a major hurricane.

Slowly moving west-northwest, Hugo slightly dropped to a Category 4 hurricane, and on September 16, at midnight, Hurricane Hugo began to affect Montserrat, slamming the island with fierce winds and intense rains.

At 7: 25 on the morning of September 17th, 1989, the eye of the Hurricane passed over Montserrat which means Hurricane Hugo hammered Montserrat for some 14 hours.

Hurricane Hugo devastated the entire island of Montserrat; ten (10) people were dead, 89 individuals were injured, 2500 people were homeless and 1200 people were in shelters while others stayed with neighbours, family and friends, 50% of the buildings were severely and extensively damaged and almost 100% of all buildings on Montserrat suffered at the minimum minor damage.

Damage from Hurricane Hugo was estimated at 1537 million EC dollars making it the most destructive and costly hurricane in the history of the island.Hugo’s devasted several other islands including Guadeloupe, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix, St. Thomas and Puerto .Rico.