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 q trail Of death and destruction. Reports from
the storm-swept area sre meagre. but u j. believed the
less Of life and property will exceed that Of the Miami
storm Of 1926.
Striking the east coast. the fury Of 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 70
move toward Florida almost A. soon a. the storm
struck the coast. Up 70 Saturday night the rseurse
Of the storm could not be definitely ascertained. and the
weather bureau could not forecast that it would pass
over the Florida peninsula. Instead Of following the
usual curve to the northeast, the storm followed the
northwesterly course. Warnings we're issued several
hours before the storm struck, and the national Red
Cross headquarters. knowing that Florida was ~ the
path Of the fury from the Caribbean. lost no time N
preparing to suecor the injured and care for the
homeless.
while il is extremely unfortunate that Florida
should he the victim Of . disaster 50 wide-sVeepins'
the fact should be borne in mind that the records q
the weather bureau show the state IL subjected e such
storms. Only In recent years, due 70 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 OF life in the storm-swept area would have been
inSinrfficant, and many Of the west tndlan storms
have. within the ken Of the weather bureau. swept =
wide path through the Florida peninsula. However,
the west coast is more exposed 70 these storms than
the east coast. September storms generally passing up
the Gulf and curvinr to the northeast to strike the
Gulf coast at some point between Key West and New
Orleans.
Ths devastation in thickly populated and well de-
veloped regions is sppallinT. Hardly q year passes
without q West Indian hurricane ravaging some por-
zion Of the Florida coast. Some OF these storms are
small and their force localized; others spread over
vide territories. as did the storm that struck the
state Sunday night.
Following the Miami storm Of 1926. architects be-
gan 10 take cognizance Of the fact that buildings must
be constructed 20 withstand the force Of the hurricanes.
General acceptance Of this idea throughout the state N
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 he
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 or the hurricanes. The losses
from two or three storms such as those o. 1926 and
1925 would more than equalize the cost Of such struc-
lures.
The storms have demonstrated the fsllaey and dan
yer 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-
pe can eliminate 20 a great extent the damage and loss
NJ life which the storms leave in their wake.