Imperial Valley press., 1931-07-22
MUCH DAMAGE
RESULTS FROM
TUESDAY STORM
School Building And Resi-
dence Burn When Hit
By Lightning.

Rain, lightning and high winds
sweeping across Imperial Valley
from out of the east in sudden
blasts late last night caused dam
age TO buildings, trees, telephone
and power lines and other property
amounting to thousands of dollars
The north end district suffered
more damage than any other por-
ton of the valley, Calexico and sur
rounding country escaping with
slightest loss.
Two buildings, one a school house
northeast of Holtville and the other
a residence in Calipatria, were
destroyed by fire started when
lightning struck the buildings.
Trees were uprooted and blown
down, sign boards destroyed and
telephone and light wires broken in
all parts of the valley.
United States Weather bureau
cages at the Imperial Irrigation dis
trict headquarters in Calexico
showed 5-100 of an inch of rain fell
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little benefit to crops in the valley.
The largest amount of crop DAM
age was reported from BraWley,
where a recently cut stand of alfal-
ia seed on the De Moulin ranch,
operated by M. N. Holiday, was
blown away, causing loss amounting
to approximately $2500.
Poe E. King, manager of the
Southern Sierras Power company,
estimated today damage resulting
from the storm caused his company
a loss of approximately $4,000.
Damage was done to most lines
in the valley, with worst havoc in
the vicinity of Holtville. Wires were
also damaged in the areas between
Ell Centre, Holtville and Dixieland.
Repairs will be effected and every
thing in order by tonight, said King.
Lights were out for a few seconds in
El Centro. In the southeast section
wires went down during the storm
and could not be repaired until this
morning.
HDtu oCtS AhOush
Wind, which reached velocity ol
between SIS and 60 miles an houl
was blamed for the greater part Of
the damage. Eucalyptus trees were
blown across the highway neal
Holtville, forcing traffic from thu
pavement.
In Brawley the roof was torn from
the grandstand in the ball park
trees in the city park were uproot
ed, several sheds and small shack
were blown over, and other minol
damage done. In Imperial two ga
RACES were blown over. Ell Centre
and Calexico saw limbs blown from
trees and Signboards blown down.
Telephone service was interrupted
only temporarily in some country
districts about El Centro and Braw.
ley Twenty-Five telephones in each
place were temporarily out OF or
der. Trees falling on telephone
lines caused most damage. In E.
Centro telephone and a light wire
blew together. shorting and blow
ing out cable.
The Central school five miles
northeast of Holtville, was struck
by lightning at II o'clock last night
and completely burned. Insurance
on the building amounted to $l1 400
covering most of the damage. A
teacherage near the school building
escaped damage.
In Calipatria the residence of A
H. Sterrett was struck by lightning
Efforts of the Calipatria fire de-
partment to check the blaze were
foiled by mud near the house
Damage amounted to a few thou
sand dollars. No estimate had been
made today of the exact amount OF
damage.
A plate glass window in the front
of the Poppy Drug company in Cal
ipatria was shattered by the force
of the wind.
Plans for rebuilding the Central
school are already being considered
according to John Slayton. chair
man of the school board. If new
building is not ready in time foi
the beginning of the school term
children of that district will be di-
vided into groups to attend other