The Key West citizen., 1954-11-15

places to water logged auton
deluged the city Saturday.
City workmen and private
citizens Joined in today in a
mass cleanup campaign TO
rid homes and streets of tons
Of mud and debris swept in
by torrents of water which
reached "a inches in some
areas.
City Manager Victor Lang list
ed the worst hit areas OF the city
as the White1ead-Angela Street
section, the area south OF Flagler
Avenue and q housing develop
ment north of Flagler Avenue.
Sewer Failure
He pointed out that failure Of
some OF the city's storm sewers
was due to the fact that the city
had a protracted dry spell prior
to the torrential downpour result.
ing in masses Of debris plugging
the sewers.
Considerable damage to the
city's streets also was caused by
the freak storm, a development
that will set preparations for the
city's projected street program
back an estimated two weeks,
Lang said.
He added that he is toying"
with the idea of asking for aid
from federal civil defense forces
since the city may be rated as a
disaster AREA" Aid would prob
ably be in the form Of funds for
the city's street damage, Lang
added.
Garden 0amsssd
Hardest hit by the storm was
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Al Mills
at Simonton and Angela Streets.
The Mills garden, which has
gained national recognition for its
beauty, was almost completely
ruined when q diesel oil tank
adjacent to the Columbia Laundry
across the street overflowed and
flooded the area along with an
estimated "a inches of water from
overloaded sewers.
Hundreds of valuable orchid
plants, shrubbery and trees were
damaged by the food.
Mills said today that he had
queried the University of Miami in
an effort TO learn OF a solvent
which could be used to save the
valuable oil-covered plants but that
he was given slight hope that they
will live.
In addition to the damage to the
garden. water swept into the Mills
home and damaged some valuable
rugs.
Total damage to the residence
may reach SIS, 900, Mills said.
A total Of 5000 in damage re-
suited when II inches of water
poured into the grocery store own
ed by Jose Padron at Whitehead
and Angela Streets. Merchandise
was ruined before Padron had a
chance to get il out of the way.
Chickens Drown
In addition, there we're only
seven survivors of a flock Of 81
chickens Padron kept in the rear
Of his store. They drowned in the
high water.
Water also flooded the law office
OF Attorney Tom Watkins on White
head st.
Mayor c. B. Harvey and City
Manger Lang personally worked to
clear a storm sewer in that area
TO relieve the situation.
About half dozen Duval st. bus
mess establishments were flooded
by the water. Herman's, a women's
clothing store at 517 Duval ST., was
particularly hard-hit. Several rugs
there were listed as total losses.
Gk-AL
Hundreds of local motorists were
stranded when their motors were
flooded during the storm.
Sheldon Smith, local insurance
adJuStor, said that more than 100
claims had been received from mo
toristS BY his office. He estimated
that total claims would . mount TO
more than $500 as a result Of he
Sorm.
The City Electric System report
ed only one small service inter-
ruption due to the storm That was
IN the Fort Village housing pro-
lect where line went down Work
men had il back in service short
~.
The Key West fire department
answered three alarms. all Of them
caused by short circuits due TO
water. The first was at Duffy's