SEVERE STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1938, Page 6

SEVERE STORM

ON CALIFORNIAN COASI.

HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES HOMELESS. '

(United Press Association—By Electrh Telegraph—Copyright).

(Received this day at 12 noon)

SAN FRANCISCO. February 10.

Dozens' were injured' and hundreds' of families are homeless. Heavy rain followed the windstorm, increasing trie misery arid the’destruction of crops and . orchards was tremendous. Sdverai towns are isolated due to blocked rbatii and broken telephone lines. "Some were left in the darkness by the' failure Of the electric power supply. Service trains stalled and radio station's .cancelled' their programmes. 'At the State capital ifi ; Sacramento, much damage was done and over a Score’were injured. The' capital police broadcast a wahiing at'the height'of the storm for fill to 'stay 6ff"the 1 -'streets. Great(waves swept in from the sc:T and" ships "were pOiihded ag'rltnst their moorings. The stohn extended over- threequarters oi the”’ Californian' coastline,' from Los Angeles to EurekdV •’ ' -Many roofs' were wipped off in various' cities' throughout 'California, and trees were uprooted in Sitcfaiiieiito. Power failed throughout the city. Emergency crews cut 'through a wall of ’the CapiloF'to release an 'operat'd 'front- a 'stalled lift."

: The' emergency hospitals were short of supplies.' ’ ' ' r Streets are flooded and are in a dangeroris condition. '• ' "Flying debris injured a, number of pedestrians ' ' " ' Twenty oil derricks were blown down and' CourtbouSe windows were scattered

At Los Angeles, the street's were littered with broken trees ’and billbOaids. The south-eastern section of the city was without lights oi*'power. At SalintiS' airport,'hangars were destroyed.

At’ 'Watsonville. 'damage to buildings and orchard's'is estimated at 250 ’thousand dollars. ' At Friiitvale the power lines are down ail’d interurban services have been halted. It is believed that a tree was brown into a passing train injuring a woman.

At Pitts most of the trees were felled. Power failed, and cars were damaged.' " - ■ At Sanmatin the power failed and houses were Unroofed.

! The Albany post office building collapsed and at Barlirihouse cars and houses were crushed and the ISouth Pacific trains.stalled.