Effects of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane in Florida small dike that had been built at the south end of the lake. The resulting flood covered an area of hundreds of square miles with water that in some places was over 20 ft (6 m) deep. Houses were floated off of their foundations and dashed to pieces against any obstacle they encountered. Most survivors and bodies were washed out into the Everglades where many of the bodies were never found. Agricultural losses in the area surrounding Lake Okeechobee were also significant, with virtually all crops destroyed and over 150 tractors suffering damage. On Kreamer Island, many residents received information
South Bay, Florida 1941. The first mayor of South Bay was Aubrey (a.k.a. "Orb") Walker, who, along with his brother, Haughty D. Walker (a.k.a. "Haught"), survived the great hurricane of 1928 by gathering his family members onto a barge in the canal. South Bay is located at (26.666487, -80.718985), near the southern bank of Lake Okeechobee. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , including of land and of (26.95%) water. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail runs through South Bay. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,859 people, 805 households, and 644 families residing