Destructive Hurricane Cleo Hits Florida

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 11

Destructive Hurricane Cleo Hits Florida

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MIAMI (Florida), August 27. Hurricane Cleo hit the resort city of Miami today and the National Hurricane Centre reported that its air gauge had blown away in winds of 110 miles an hour. Torrential rains battered down as the hurricane’e eye passed over the city. Crashing power lines started many fires. A fire department spokesman said men were working on two dozen fires. Street lights were out all over the city. Shop windows blew out.

Hospitals were preparing to receive many casualties. Three hotel clerks had to be rescued as they were swept down the street while trying to bring in a potted plant from outside the hotel entrance.

An 85ft boat was torn from its moorings in a creek and was drifting. A fire destroyed a packing plant 30 miles outside the city.

Cuba was battered by strong winds and torrential rains early yesterday as Cleo moved northwards over the island.

The Prime Minister, Fidel Castro, the President, Osvaldo

Dorticos, and other Cuban leaders went to the affected provinces beforehand to supervise precautionary measures and rescue work.

No reports of deaths or injuries were received, but various centres in Oriente and Camaguey provinces reported damage to houses and other property. Official sources in Port-Au-Prince said yesterday that Cleo was believed to have caused 122 deaths in Haiti. Thousands of people were left homeless. Power lines and communications have been destroyed and roads blocked. The hurricane caused rivers to flood and destroyed plantations.

One of the worst-hit towns is Les Cayes, where half the buildings, including hospitals, schools, churches and barracks have been destroyed. The villages of Cavaillon and Camp Perrin, in the neighbourhood of Les Cayes, have been devastated.