TORNADO DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1928, Page 2

TORNADO DISASTER

TORNADO DAMAGE, AS EAR AS BOSTON. Australian Press Assn.—United Service NEW YORK, September 19. An intimation that, tliero are as many ns 250 people dead and one thousand injured in Florida is believed to be well founded.

The property damage in Florida alone is placed at twenty-five millions of dollars, while the total for the entire stricken area may be one hundred millions.

The hurricane is still raging northwards, with little loss of intensity.

The entire south-east of the United States is now cut off. Charleston and South Carolina cannot be reached in any manner, and unless there is immediately a decided shift in the storm’s course, its two-tliousand-mile path will be extended well northward.

The hurricane has smashed through Georgia, leaving misery and destruction in its wake.

Tlie coastgunrd is prepared to aid shipping. As far north as Boston, all ships are rushing to shelter. Tho majority of the people dead in Florida have not been identified. Some centres are experiencing difficulty in burying all those stricken. . Looting is feared and the whole State of Florida is asking for martial law. The Palm Beaches have been utterly wrecked. Trees and houses were swept, crushed and splintered in all directions. Practically no buildings of any sort are undamaged.

The most serious loss of life seems to have been in tlie Lake Okeechobee region, where floods, bursting the dams, added to the work of the wind, This section was completely inundated and little outside aid is available. The caretakers of many homes belonging to wealthy residents have reported the estates as “Ruined.” AVhen the roofs and walls collapsed, exposing tho furnishing and art. objects to the wind, they admitted lootei's to search in masses of debris.

Washington was excited by an unfounded radio report that the hurricane would hit the capital. The National Meteorological Bureau, however, has insisted that it will pass some distance south-east of Washington to-morrow.

Wholesale warnings were issued today for the East Coast of the United States, from, the Virginia Cape to Atlantic City, while the effects of .the storm will be felt as far north' as Boston.

The New York Weather Bureau has issued- storm warnings with predictions of high winds and heavy rain. Eleven inches of rain fell ill Savannah and Georgia, and heavy rains fell in Norfolk, Virginia, to-day. Governor- Martin, of Florida, to-day appealed for an immediate supply of aid from the United States Department of War, indicating that the position is probably oven more serious than in the 1G2(5 disaster.

Secretary Davis immediately ordered the Fourth Ai-rny Corps to render all the aid possible. 409 FLORIDA FATALITIES. PROPERTY LOSS MOUNTS UP. NEW YORK, September 19. ' News from Jacksonville, Florida, states that the total of those known to be dead in the Florida storm had mounted to two hundred and fifty last night, and it was estimated that it would reach four hundred. The property damage is estimated at from twenty-five to one bundled million dollars.