The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-11-06
STORM EDUCATION
tpalaska Daily Newsl

That Florida hurricanes. from the national
standpoint, are considered equally as menacing as
California earthquakes Is not entirely due to hos
tile propaganda The chief reason for their bad
names unqnestionably. is that the citizens of
other commonwealth are not properly educated as
to their frequency extent aud seasonal Characters
tics. This is due largely to Chamber of CON-
meree attitude adopted by many Florida news
papers. which suppress all storm news with reli
the damage, and which do nothing toward infOrm-
ing the world to the real nature OF these at
mospheric disturbances.
No doubt there are millions of Americans who
are not aware that storms strike IN this part Of
the state but once in fifty years. And millions
more would scarcely believe that with the exeep-
ton o TIVE OF three months in each year, Florida
i totally immune from winds of tornado force. If
Che truth were told. boldly aud frankly. this state
would acquire the safety reputation Of a cyclone
cellar during It's entire major tourist season.
". J. Bennett federal meteorologist stationed
q Jacksonville, recently prepared an article re-
Easdine storms at the request of The Associated
Press. Il Is official. coming from such source.
and S calculated to relieve much of the apprehen
SION that exists and that may correctly be at
tributed 70 colossal ignorance of the actual dan
ger. even upon the part of Floridians themselves
This article says:
"only about half of all tropical storms re-
ported in the Atlantic and Caribbean ever reach
the coast Of the United States and only about one
fourth reach the coast VITA hurricane intensity
These facts should Be reassuring.
s'Fsoriaa has longer coast line than any
soiler pnion and there is probability
ssf SCION oae hprricane.a year aeaehing some por
aqn. q tais long coast line. The chance of a hur
sqs'se stsaaVe any particular portion of the Flor
ida coast depends upon location It has been cal
eaiated that the chances are greatest in the ex-
trcsne south. and in the extreme northwest. For
the visinities Of Key West and Pensacola the
chances o. winds OF hurricane force are once in 10
years; for the Palm Beach. Miami and Fort Myers
sections. once in 20 years; for the Tampa section.
in SO years, and for the jacksonville section.
once in 50 years.
Hurricanes vary in size and intensity and
Ft-N
from p miles to 100 miles, 1t has been proved IN
TIE case o. TIE Miami storm. that even storm of
major intensity. wen built substantial structures.
even frame houses can stand the force of the hur-
rieane winds and suffer only small damage
In The face of these facts. 1t is apparent
that no tourist need ever be exposed to bodily
harm from hurricanes except Of his own volitiOn,
warnins Is given IN ample time for any who 50 de-
sire to leave the danger area long before the
storm strikes. There Is Of course. no means OF
entirely removing the expectancy Of property
damage N sections % the state. bat this is
something that concerns investors and permanent
residents only
Az who care to come to Florida for pecrea-
ION OF sightseeing can bring with them the posi-
tive assurance that they vii return home IN
harmed whether they are individual tourists or the
100000 Who attend national american Legion
convention.