This is the first in a series of articles on Hazards of the Jamaican Coastline contributed by the Marine Geology Unit, Department of Geography and Geology, University of the West Indies. The Unit is headed by Emeritus Professor Edward Robinson.
The worst hurricane on record appears to be that of 1722. It lasted 14 hours, raised a five-metre storm surge in Port Royal, made that town an island again, and created five breaches or channels through the eastern part of the Palisadoes.
From the point of view of damage to Port Royal and the Palisadoes, the worst earthquake in historical times was that of 1692, which destroyed much of Port Royal, with largely unknown effects on the rest of the peninsula.
