Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-18

Another West Indian hurricane. driving up from
the eastern Caribbean, has swept the Florida peninsula,
leaving a trail Of death and destruction Reports from
the storm-swept area are meagre. but Il Is believed the
loss Of life and property will exceed that Of the Miami
storm Of 1926.
Striking the east coast. the fury or the storm CEN
tered near Palm Beach. Florida's most popular pleas
ure resort. and drove westward through the rich citrus
and lake sections. That the loss will mount into many
millions is very obvious.
From all parts Of the United States relief began to
move toward Florida almost as soon as the storm
struck the coast. Up to Saturday night the reeurse
Of the storm could not be definitely ascertained. and the
weather bureau could not forecast that il would pass
over the Florida peninsula. Instead Of following the
usual curve to the northeast, the storm followed the
northwesterIy course. Warnings were issued several
hours before the storm struck and the national Red
Gross headquarters. knowing that Florida was n the
path Or the fury from the Caribbean, lost nc time II
preparing to succor the injured and care for inc
homeless.
While il is extremely unfortunate STAT Florida
should be the victim Of a disaster 50 vide-sVeeping'
the fact should be borne in mind that the records OF
the weather bureau show the state IS subjected to such
storms. Only in recent years, due to the development
of coastal resorts and large cities like Miami. Jackson
vile, 81. Petersburg and Others, have the hurricanes
assumed much importance other than in the meteor
logical bureaus. Twenty-Five years ago damage and
loss or life in the storm-swept area would have been
insignificant, and many Of the West Indian storms
have. within the ken u the weather bureau, swept 2
wide path through the Florida peninsula. However,
the west coast il more exposed 70 these storms than
the east coast. September storms generally passing up
the Gulf and curving 70 the northeast to strike the
Gulf coast at some point between Key West and New
Orleans.
The devastation in thickly populated and we'll de-
xeloped regions is appalling. Hardly a year passes
without a West Indian hurricane ravaging some por-
tion OF the Florida coast. Some Of these storms are
small and their force localized; others spread over
wide territories. as did the storm that struck the
state Sunday night.
Following the Miami storm az 1926. architects be-
gan 10 take cognizance Of the fact that buildings must
be constructed TO withstand the force OF the hurricanes.
General acceptance Of this idea throughout the state in
the construction Of homes and office and industrial
structures will greatly reduce the loss Of life and also
the damage loss. But the loss TO citrus fruit orchards
cannot be prevented. However, such losses can be
replaced.
There Is but one way in which Florida can cope
with this handicap, and that is 10 erect buildings that
can withstand the force Of the hurricanes. The losses
from two or three storms such as those Of 1926 and
1925 would more than equalize the cost Of such struc-
lures.
The storms have demonstrated the falIaey and dan
ker Of .recting flimsIIy built structures, such as are
usually considered sufficient in a semi-tropic cline.
Florida cannot turn back the hurricanes, but her peo-
ole can eliminate to e great extent the damage and loss
bf life which the storms leave in their wake.