What important event from Hamilton's life does this stanza recount?

Then a hurricane came, and devastation reigned
Our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain
Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain
And he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain
Well the word got around, they said “This kid is insane, man!”
Took up a collection, just to send him to the mainland
“Get your education, don’t forget from whence you came
And the world’s gonna know your name. What’s your name man?”