Bermuda's permanent settlement began with a hurricane in 1609 that drove the Virgina bound Sea Venture onto the Island's reefs and the ship's crew and passengers, including Sir George Somers, ashore.

Author Terry Tucker gives a vivid account in her book, `Beware the Hurricane' of the Sea Venture's voyage across the Atlantic to Jamestown.

"The first part of the voyage had gone well. Sir George had paced the heaving deck and kept an eye on the eight other vessels in his fleet. He took his turn at the helm and set an example of hard work to his men.

"And then, when they were off the Azores, a sudden storm scattered the whole fleet. Worse was yet to come: on Monday July 24, when the Sea Venture had been more than seven weeks at sea, lost to sight of all other ship and far from any land, a hurricane struck.

"It took eight men to hold the steering gear, the rain fell in cascades, the sea mounted toward the sky. The wind roared so loudly in the rigging that the shouted orders of the ship's officers went unheard, and the children's cries of fear were lost.''

Hurricanes have prevailed over the past 400 years. In 1689 Governor Richard Coney wrote to the Lords of Council in London:

"The house I dwell in is falling down ever since I came to this Country; at every great storm myself and family are forced to take refuge at some neighbour's house and at every ordinary rain to fly from room to room for shelter.''

On October 10, 1780, one of the severest hurricanes ever recorded struck Bermuda's coasts. Historian Terry Tucker wrote: "Considered by far the most terrible tropical storm of modern times, it is always referred to as `the Great Hurricane'.

"Fifty ships were driven ashore. Houses were blown down, cedars torn up bodily by the roots, while the tide rose to a great height with much loss and damage to shipping.''

The Royal Gazette of June 6, 1832, said: "During the evening of Thursday and morning of Friday last we were visited by a most terrific gale of wind, accompanied with rain, surpassing in violence anything of the kind at this season of the year within an age.

"The only damage to the shipping that we have heard deserving of notice was done in the harbour of St. George's: two Schooners, the Jane and Marie, owned by Messrs Davenport, were driven against the shore.''

In September 1880, The Royal Gazette reported: "Since 1839 no gale has visited us at all to be compared to that of last week...the howling of the storm on this severest test to which the Lighthouse Tower and Lantern have ever been put to.''

The year 1915 suffered a hurricane during September, following very sultry weather. The Royal Gazette of September 9 gives a full account of the `Wreck on the South Shore' of the steamer, Pollokshields.

"The seas were running tremendously high all Monday night and early on Tuesday morning the shrill whistling of a steamer gave notice to the people of Paget that something was amiss.

"Presently, through the spray and mist which hung between them and the first line of breakers, the inhabitants of the South Shore Hotel saw a large steamer heading N.N.E. and hopelessly fast among the reefs.

"The cruel line of reefs held the wrecked ship in the grip of a monster and the great seas flung themselves upon the group of men gathered together on her deck as if to tear them bodily.

"Captain Edwards, the master, lost his life soon after the ship struck.''