Hurricane Elena was an unpredictable and damaging Damaging tropical cyclone that affected Influence eastern and central portions of the United States Gulf Coast in late August and early September 1985 .

Threatening Commitment popular tourist destinations during Labor Day weekend , Elena repeatedly deviated Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale from its forecast path , triggering Process_start evacuations of unprecedented extent .

Elena developed Cause_change_of_strength on August 28 near Cuba , and after traveling Traveling lengthwise across the island with little impact Influence , it entered Arriving the Gulf of Mexico and continued to strengthen Cause_change_of_strength .

Despite predictions that Elena would continue eastward across Florida , the cyclone remained Temporary_stay nearly stationary for about 48 hours , causing Causation damage Damaging all along the eastern gulf with high winds and waves , before slowly moving Motion northwest and ultimately making landfall near Biloxi , Mississippi , on September 2 as a Category 3 major hurricane .

Elena 's slow Change_event_time movement off western Florida resulted in Causation severe beach erosion and damage Damaging to coastal buildings , roads , and seawalls , especially to those of old or inadequate construction .

The island sustained some of the most significant damage Damaging inflicted Causation by Elena , including several hundred damaged Damaging or demolished Destroying homes .

In Elena 's wake , President Ronald Reagan declared Expressing_publicly parts of Alabama , Mississippi , and Florida federal disaster areas , making Manufacturing storm Catastrophe victims eligible for financial aid Assistance and temporary housing .

The name `` Elena '' was later retired from the cyclical list of Atlantic hurricane names because of the storm 's effects Achieve .

Juan was the last of three hurricanes Catastrophe to move Motion over Louisiana during the season , after Danny in August and Elena in early September .

Riots , street violence and murder in several Romanian cities over the course of roughly a week led Causation the Romanian leader to flee Escaping the capital city on 22 December with his wife , Deputy Prime Minister Elena Ceaușescu .