Evening star., 1944-09-15
Ocean City Storm
Damage Estimated
|At Half Million

Coastal areas Of Maryland and
Virginia were returning to normal
today in the wake of the Atlantic
hurricane which caused moderate
property damage and disrupted
highway and electric communica-
tions in the Norfolk area and East
ern Shore and forced evacuation OF
several hundred persons from low
lying areas.
The hurricane center passed sew
eral hundred miles east of WASH
ington, with only % inch OF rain
and 30-mile wind recorded here
during the day. Three inches of
rain had fallen since rain began
early Tuesday.
While reports still were incom-
plete, late crops on Maryland's fer
tile Eastern Shore were damaged
or destroyed by torrential rains and
heavy winds.
$500. 900 Loss at Ocean City.
Ocean City. Md. appeared to be
hardest hit, with damage estimated
at 100000. High seas tore out
large sections of the boardwalk,
ripped windows and doors of homes
and business places and blew away
a portion of the high school roof.
The only injury reported was IA
year-old woman who broke a leg in
a fall In the Ocean City Hotel.
State police reported between 100
and 200 persons were evacuated by
bus to- Salisbury before the storm
struck. while perhaps a hundred
more left in private automobiles. A
foot Of water stood In the streets
at Ocean City at the height of the
storm, and several restaurants and
hotels operated by candlelight last
night until restoration of power IA
cilities.
Rumors that a tidal wave would
hit Ocean City at 10 pm. hastened
the flight of many families. It failed
to materialize, however.
At Salisbury new 200-foot ware
house was blown down and the city
was partially without electric power
as trees and limbs struck power
lines.
70-Mile Wind Lashes Norfolk.
A 70-mile wind lashed Norfolk
yesterday as the storm center passed
less than 100 miles away. At least
five persons were injured when five
11O-foot smokestacks were toppled
at the st. Julians Greek Naval AM
munition Depot. Five feet of water
covered some low-lying areas of the
city. Approximately inches of
rain fell there during the day.
Two persons were hospitalized and
number of others slightly injured
when 20 chimneys crashed through
the roof of occupied homes in a
Federal housing development in
Norfolk County. A man was blown
from his boat and his leg broken
when he was thrown against a
wharf. Flying glass from broken
store windows injured a woman pc
destrian.
The Norfolk & Washington
Steamboat Co. steamer District of
Columbia Cancelled its trip from
Norfolk to Washington last night,
but planned to resume operations
tomorrow. evening.
Radio Towers Toppled.
Police evacuated about 50 families
from their ocean-front homes at
Virginia Beach. High winds toppled
Navy and police radio towers there,
and b number of homes were
The Cape Henry Weather Bureau
reported q maximum wind of IS
miles an hour. At Norfolk the high
est sustained velocity was 70 with
gusts up to rs.
Norfolk was threatened for sew
eral hours with loss of its water sup
ply when pumps stopped because OF
power failure. An unidentified
schooner was driven aground OF
Little Creek, northeast of Norfolk
and the Coast Guard rescued the
crew of Is men with breeches buovs