Hurricane records are available in most libraries and should be anywhere online.  Of course, the very detailed ones only date back to a certain period.  Wind speeds, damage reports, and what not were not available in the early days.  For these, however, there are a lot of stories written from those who experienced them first hand.  Are you interested in writing?  You should check out these early reports and be ready to do likewise when the next one comes around to your neck of the woods.  Just prepare yourself for the worst so that you can protect what is important to you.