ALABAMA FLOODS

Wairarapa Age, 19 March 1929, Page 5

ALABAMA FLOODS

TWENTY THOUSAND PERSONS HOMELESS. i TOLL OF FIFTEEN LIVES. HEAVY DAMAGE. ‘ United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received Monday, 7.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 17. Ne.ws from Troy (Alabama) states that twenty thousand, persons are homeless to-night in Alabama and Florida, as a result of floods which took a reported toll of fifteen lives, and caused damage estimated at over fifteen million i dollars, with further reports of i death and damage expected as the i waters subside. The swollen rivers are gradually ' sinking in the majority of places, leavI ing scenes of utter desolation. Stories of suffering, misery, death, privation and disease are beginning to filter into the rescue camps. The Red Cross and other organisations are working at top speed to aid refugees. Airplanes are dropping foods, medical supplies and preventative serums over districts I where landing is impossible. The Ala- ! bama National Guard is in control. The • town of Elba is wiped off the map, aet cording to witnesses, and Geneva is • practically in as bad a condition. 1 Guardsmen are hurrying to remove ! and destroy carcases of cattle, dogs, 1 swine and other animals which were ’ drowned in uncounted numbers.—(Aus- - tralian Press Association.) RESCUE EFFORTS ; AEROPLANES DO GOOD WORK • MONTGOMERY (Alabama), March 17. Aeroplanes are flying over the flooded areas, and report that rescue work is proceeding with all possible speed. In some sections boats are able to reach the victims who are taking refuge on- house-tops. Aeroplanes are also dropping bread to the survivors. The last reports from Elba indicate that the water.is rapidly rising again after a slight drop. Driving rainfall continues. I Unconfirmed reports from Ozark, Ai- ; abama, indicate that a rescue worker I stated that more than 150 people have jbeen drowned already and hundreds of (others are in immediate danger at Elite). | The peril of the marooned inhabiI tants is increasing. Further reports ..of the disasTrous work of the water are Ci—'ming in from scattered points. President Hoover announced that an my cerps commander at Atlanta inJstructed aid relief the Alabama and Florida, flood zones. One member of tire rescue parties, attempting to reach Elba, reported that, he had gone to within a short distance of the city in a motor boat, but was forced back by the raging torrents. He said that the water had reached the second floor of the courthouse, on which fifteen hundred people were reported to have taken refuge. The water was twenty feet deep in the town, he stated', and many houses were floating about, loosened from their foundations. FIRE CLIMAX TO FLOOD Castleberry, Alabama, ha-s been al most totally destroyed, by fire, as a climax to the flood, which had marooned the inhabitants. The- disaster was reported by an aviator who flew over the wreckage. At present throughout \the entire area only a few scores are known to have been rescued. The fate 1 cf the others is unknown, due to the ’ disruption of communications and the general chaos. Heavy rains are eon- ’ tinning, swelling the already flooded , steams and rivers. Rod Cross is mobilising aid for - thousands of refuges, who will probably be forced to spend at least tori'ghi jn unsafe positions, perching on trees and housetops, for -only small '.boats are available, none of-which can 'buck the currents. 1 Illinois also is suffering. The town Jof I’raport has been driven to extreme measures. A funeral took place here jto-day, from boats between the church and the cemetery.—(Australian Press Association.)