The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1928-11-15
half MILLION PEOPLE
AIDED BY RED CROSS
IN HURRICANE RELIEF
Porto Rico and Florida Victims
Helped by Prompt Action;
100000 Given by
Public.

One of, the greatest disasters, in
point of loss of life and devastation
OF homes, in which the American Red
Cross has ever carried relief was the
West indies hurricane of September
last. which swept across Porto Rico,
parts of the Virgin Islands. the coast
OF Florida and north to end in tor
rental rains, flooding streams in a
half dozen states The known dead
in all of the areas affected was 2359.
although it was admitted thai the
complete total of dead in Florida
would never be known. The number
of injured was estimated at $40. Ap-
proximately 10000 buildings were de.
stroyed and damaged
At the height of the emergency the
Red Cross was caring for 5G6 40 beo-
ple-that is, feeding and clothing
them and arranging for whatever
shelter was obainable. As long az
three weeks after the hurricane
struck Porto Rico and Florida he
Red Cross was aiding 20.236 eople
who were sick, of these 236 in Flo ida
and the remainder in Porto Rico.
where influenza and malaria were be-
ing treated to prevent epidemics of
more drastic diseases Large nun.
bers of Red Cross nurses were active
at both points.
In Florida more than 1000 persons
applied to Red Cross for assistance,
and a great number of people in Fl ri.
da and also in Porto Rico still were
being cared for in the matter OF food.
clothing and shelter as long al 'we
months after the hurricane, vale
they awaited maturing crops which
would enable them to again become
self sustaining.
For this relief task. the American
public gave the American Red Cross
fund of $5,0000 00-the sum set
forth in a proclamation issued by
President Coolidge few days after
news of the hurricane was received
The relief given by the Red Cross
in this great emergency. spread over
such a wide territory Of sea and .aad.
was everywhere commended and es.
pecial emphasis was placed upon The
promtitude with which the organIAa,
ton responded. The hurricane stracii
Porto Rico September 10, and The
first brief cabled word OF it cam
September IA, to both Red Cross ani
the news agencies Before nightiali,
the national director of disaster re-.
lief for the Red Cross and staff OF
four trained men had left Washington
for Charleston, South Carolina, 10
board a navy destroyer which upon
instruction of the President of the
United States had been placed at
command of the Red Cross by the
Secretary of the Navy. And although
the next day was Sunday Red Cross
man arrived in New York to purchase
a thousand tons of food for the Po"to
Rcans. already reported to be starv
ing, and the Navy again placed a ship
for the cargo at Red Cross command
Late on Saturda" evening there came
another cable-a Red Cross nurse at
st. Croix, in the Virgin Islands, ad
dressed a plea to the mother organi
cation in Washington and gave tiHst
warning of the plight of the people Of
the American possession. where no
family in a population of 11,00U had
escaped injury
In the meantime the Red Cross had
notified its Florida Chapters that IT,
stood ready for any service in event
the hurricane. headed toward them
did any damage, Not content wits
this, the Red Cross ON Sunday night
entrained a disaster relief director
and six workers for Florida.
Money, food, clothing were dis
patched immediately 10 both points
and before the end of the week he
Red Cross was feeding half million
people.
This prompt response was made
possible by the disaster relief prsant
cation the Red Cross has brousht 10
gether and trained iiIn as h a series
of such national calanii e9.
Support Of this work is throueh the
annual Roll Call for m m'ersh'Hs
The goal in the twelfth am 3al Roll
Call to be held ArmisIct Day to
Thanksgiving Day, Novemb II sto
80. is 100000 me nbers