 The hurricane passed near Saint Lucia on August 17 , where high tides and rough seas were reported . Flooding was reported in northern Puerto Rico during its passage . Impact is unknown in Hispaniola and Cuba . The hurricane produced an estimated storm tide of 12 feet ( 3 @.@ 7 m ) at Saint Marks ; the combination of waves and the storm tide flooded coastal areas , destroying 50 % of the cotton crops in some areas . Rough seas destroyed a brig , killing 17 people , and another person drowned due to a shipwreck . Many ships were expected to have been lost in the storm , resulting in fear of potentially hundreds of deaths . The storm caused heavy damage along the coastline , and in Apalachicola the winds destroyed the roofs of all but two or three buildings . Dog Island Light was destroyed , resulting in five deaths . Further inland , many houses were blown over in Tallahassee , totaling $ 60 @,@ 000 in damage ( 1851 USD ) . Heavy damage was reported in Alabama , including destroyed crops and damaged houses ; damage in the state was less than in Florida . Hurricane force winds extended into southwestern Georgia , while tropical storm force winds were reported along the coastline . In Savannah , the winds damaged many houses and downed many trees . In North Carolina and Virginia , winds from the storm destroyed crop fields and small buildings ; in the region , it was described as the worst storm in 30 years . Storm damage was reported as far north as Cambridge , Massachusetts . 
