GALE IN CALIFORNIA

Evening Star, Issue 22880, 11 February 1938, Page 9

GALE IN CALIFORNIA

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE REPORTED SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED Press 'Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SAN FRANCISCO, February 10. Five persons are known to be dead and property damage is estimated at 1,000,000d0l as the result of an eighty-mile-an-hour gale throughout California. The storm swept in from the sea, smashing buildings and trees in several cities throughout the State. Communication is interrupted. RAIN FOLLOWS WINDSTORM FAMILIES HOMELESS DESTRUCTION WIDESPREAD SAN FRANCISCO, February 10. (Received February 11, at 10.30 a.m.) Dozens of people were injured and 100 families are homeless. Heavy rain followed the windstorm, increasing the misery. The destruction to crops and orchards was tremendous. Several towns are isolated, due to blocked roads and broken telephone lines. Some towns were left in darkness by the failure of the electric services. Trains were held up and radio stations cancelled their programmes. At the State capitol, Sacramento, much damage was done and over a score of people were injured. The Capitol police broadcast a warning, at the height of the storm for all persons to stay off the streets. Great waves swept in from the sea, and ships strained at their moorings.

The storm extended over threequarters of the Californian coastline—from Los Angeles to Eureka. Many roofs were ripped oif in various cities throughout California, and trees were uprooted. In Sacramento the power failed throughout the city. Emergency crews cut through the wall of the Capitol to release an operator from a stalled lift. The emergency hospitals are short of supplies, and the streets are flooded and in a dangerous condition. Flying debris injured a number of pedestrians. Twenty oil derricks were blown down, and the courthouse windows were shattered. At Los Angeles the streets were littered with broken trees and billboards. The south-eastern section of the city is without lights. At Salinas airport the hangars were destroyed. At Watsonville the damage to the buildings and orchards is estimated at 250,000 dollars. At Fruitvale the power lines are down and the interurban service is disorganised. It is believed that a tree was blown into a passing train, injuring a woman. At Pittsburgh most of the trees were blown down. The power failed, and cars were damaged. At San Mateo the power failed, and houses were unroofed. At Albany the post office building collapsed, and at Burlingame cars and houses were crushed and South Pacific trains stalled.