page_title: Tropical Storm Alma (1974)
section_title: Preparations, impact, and aftermath
hierarchical_section_title: Tropical Storm Alma (1974) / Preparations, impact, and aftermath
context_page_description: Tropical Storm Alma, the first named storm to develop in the 1974 Atlantic hurricane season, was a short lived tropical cyclone that made a rare Venezuelan landfall. The storm formed from the Intertropical Convergence Zone on August 12 well to the east of the Windward Islands, but advisories were not issued until the next day when Alma was at peak intensity. Alma entered the southeastern Caribbean Sea at an unusually brisk westward pace of between 20 mph to 25 mph, prompting numerous watches and gale warnings throughout the nations in this region. After crossing Trinidad, Alma became one of only four tropical storms to traverse the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela. The storm dissipated on August 15 over the high terrain of Venezuela.
  Alma left heavy damage in Trinidad, amounting to about US$5 million, making it the most destructive cyclone of the 20th century on the island at that time. Alma damaged about 5,000 buildings, leaving 500 people homeless. The storm also wrecked 17,750 acres of crop fields. There were two deaths in Trinidad, including one person who was struck by flying debris.
context_section_description: Before Alma made landfall, gale warnings and a hurricane watch was issued for Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados. As Alma progressed westward, gale warnings were also issued for the Paria and Paraguaná peninsulas of Venezuela, the Guajira Peninsula, and the ABC islands. Initially, the Trinidad and Tobago weather service anticipated Alma would strike Tobago, but as the storm approached, the trajectory over Trinidad became apparent.
  While moving across Trinidad, Alma produced sustained winds of only 35 mph (56 km/h) at Piarco, yet gusts reached 91 mph (147 km/h) at Savonetta. Rainfall at Piarco did not exceed 1 inch (25 mm) during the storm's passage. The strong gusts downed trees and power lines, and damaged about 5,000 buildings, including schools, hospitals, and hundreds of households, wrecking everything inside. This left about 500 people homeless. Alma also caused widespread damage to agriculture, mostly to sugar, resulting in 17,750 acres (7,180 ha) of ruined fields. Several highways in the country suffered damage. The winds flung debris from a roof, which struck and killed a woman. There was also an indirect death on the island, along with several injuries. Damage estimates on the island totaled $5 million (1974 USD); the American embassy in the country considered Alma to be the most destructive storm in Trinidad during the 20th century.
  After the storm, local Red Cross volunteers provided meals and clothing to thousands of storm victims. The government allocated $5.1 million (Trinidad and Tobago dollars) for relief work, to be coordinated by the National Emergency Relief Organization of Trinidad and Tobago, which was established following the damaging Hurricane Flora in 1963. This helped rebuild damage houses, clear roads, and assist affected farmers. The United States Agency for International Development sent about US$5,000 in assistance, after the country's ambassador sent a formal request to Washington, D.C. The Amoco oil company also sent a $500 donation to the country's Red Cross.
  While moving through the Windward Islands, Alma produced strong wind gusts on Grenada. The outer rainbands of Alma spread over Venezuela while the center was still over Trinidad. At about 13:00 UTC on August 14, the rains caused a Linea Aeropostal Venezolana Vickers Viscount 749 turboprop airliner circling the airport on Isla Margarita to crash. The aircraft struck the side of La Gloria, 26 ft (8 m) below the summit. All but one of the 49 people aboard died on impact; the co-pilot survived for 17 more days before dying from irreversible brain damage. Elsewhere in Venezuela, Alma's heavy rainfall triggered several landslides.
caption: Tropical Storm Alma over Trinidad on August 14
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