The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-09-19
P~ascagoula and
Moss Point
Plan For Blow

Pascagoula was making prepa-
ration to meet winds of hurricane
force late Thursday as this paper
went to press.
The tropical hurricane that had
swept across the Florida peninsula
from Fort Lauderdale- Miami
are to Fort Meyers on the West
Coast, and then roared into the
Gulf of Mexico was reported
at $3.50 p. m. to be 200 miles
south of Panama City, and head
ing in a west-northwesterly di-
rection carrying winds of 80 to
100 miles an hour in its center.
The hurricane had done un-
told damage to Florida cities and
communities that lay in its path,
but little loss of life was report
ed. Communications were still
badly hampered, however, be-
cause of blown down wires and
damage to other forms of COM
munication.
The Red Cross in Pascagoula,
through its emergency disaster
committee headed by Karl Vie
senburg had alerted the city, es-
tablished first aid stations and
opened schools and public build
ings to give shelter to those who
might be forced from their homes
by the high winds.
Coast Prepares
Other coast cities made similar
preparation as the huge hurri-
came moved across the Gulf head
ed in the general direction of the
southeast Louisiana coast. How
ever, it could easily shift its
course and strike anywhere
the long coast line.
Mobile evacuated $500 persons
from the low-lying Blakeley Is
land war housing project, and es-
tablished the families in schools
and other more substantial build
Weather bureau officials at New
Orleans said the winds in the
Pascagoula area would increase
during the early evening hours
OF Thursday and reach their peak
Friday morning.
The hurricane was attended by
winds of 80 to 100 miles an hour
within a radius of so miles of
the center. and gales within a ra-
dius of 200 miles of the center.
weather bureau bulletins said late
Wednesday.
New Orleans was alerted and
the winds there would reach hur-
ricane force by early Friday, the
bulletin said. s
The ingalls, Shipyard had dou-
Die lashed everything movable
IN preparation for the expected
hurricane force winds. Ships
we're double lashed and heavy
sanery cranes anchored.
Mayor JOHN r. Watts announc-
I'd that all city police and fire
men had been placed on a 24-hour
standby schedule and that e
sney stations had been prepared
n the Firemen's Hall, at the Jack
ION County hospital, the first
3aptist church and the Market
Recreation Center.
One hundred cots were erected
n the Recreation Center yester-
lay afternoon and arrangements
we're made to have a doctor at
ZACH station, in case of an emery
'ncy. Mayor Watts also said that
lremen would be pressed into
police service if buildings were
wrecked and footing became 8
problem.
Local insurance agencies were
wamped all day yesterday bv
'ersons and businesses attempting
0 take out wind storm insurance
no policies were issued for
reasons.
All units of the Disaster Pre-
'aredness Committee of the Red
ross were alerted yesterday and
Instructed to report to the Red
ross headquarters if the winds
cached hurricane proportions.
In Moss Point, Mayor F. W. Cir
0t stated that some businesses
nd residences YER being board
d up yesterday afternoon and
hat water tanks were filled and
ne pumps protected as well as
ossihle. Diesel pumps will be
sed If electricity fails, he said.
The Volunteer Fire Company
ad been alerted. as wei as the
dice placed on a 24-hour stand
y. the mayor said The city
all and schools and other pub
c buildings would be available
the case Of an emergency. he
aid.