Florida's Great Hurricane/Chapter 15

On September 20, President Coolidge issued a proclamation calling for contributions to be used for the relief of the stricken Florida districts, as follows:

"An overwhelming disaster has come to the people of Miami, Hollywood and surrounding communities in Southern Florida. Such assistance as is within the means of the executive department of the government will be rendered, but, realizing the great suffering which now needs relief and will need relief for days to come, I am prompted to appeal urgently to the American people, whose sympathies have always been so comprehensive, to contribute generously in aiding the sufferers of this disaster.

"That the utmost co-ordination and effectiveness in the administration of the relief funds may be obtained, I urge that all contributions for this purpose be sent to the American National Red Cross at Washington or to the local Red Cross chapters."

On September 23 the executive division of the Citizens' Relief Committee issued the following appeal for funds:

"TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE :

"The City of Miami is compelled to issue an appeal to the people of the United States for the relief of Miami and Dade County. Six days ago this city of two hundred thousand people was one of the most prosperous, beautiful and delightful communities in this country. Today, as a result of a disastrous tropical hurricane which devastated our Coast last Saturday, it lies prostrate.

"We have one hundred dead; nearly a thousand patients in the general and emergency hospitals, hundreds of them grievously injured. While conditions are being rapidly restored by means of most wonderful and efficient co-operation of its citizens along all important lines, the problems confronting them are almost insurmountable. Food and other necessary supplies are coming in great quantities, and we have been blessed by the arrival of a sufficient number of ​physicians and nurses and ample medical supplies for the immediate present.

"But more than five thousand homes have been either entirely destroyed or made unfit for human habitation. Twenty-five thousand people have been rendered homeless. These are being cared for in thousands of instances, by neighbors, who, themselves are suffering. Miami needs money quickly and in large amounts. It needs it to take care of the poor, sick and injured. It needs it to rehabilitate the homes of thousands who have lost everything in the world and who will die of exposure if assistance does not come promptly and amply.

"And so, we send out this appeal, believing that the people of this Nation will respond cheerfully and quickly to this great necessity; and on our part, in return, we can only express our appreciation of the wonderful sympathy and aid which is being shown to our sufferers throughout the whole land, and to venture to hope that we may be able, some day and in some way, to reciprocate to other suffering communities the favor we are now asking.

"Contributions should be sent either by wire or fast mail addressed to John B. Reilly, Treasurer of the Relief Fund Committee, Miami, Florida, or to The American National Red Cross which has been designated by President Coolidge to raise necessary relief funds, of which James H. Gilman of Miami is treasurer of the local chapter.

"The American Red Cross has been placed in full charge of the rehabilitation of Miami and all funds sent for relief will be spent for relief without deductions for administrative costs."

This appeal was signed by:

Upon his return to Miami from New York, where he was when the storm struck, Mayor E. C. Romfh's first official act was to survey ​the damage and issue a statement, which was entitled "Official Storm Statement." This document is preserved because of its historic value.

It follows:

"From the thousands of telegrams pouring into Miami, hundreds of which are addressed to the mayor of the city, I am convinced a very much exaggerated idea of Miami's real condition has been created. I regard it as a duty to the public at large to set forth as briefly as possible the situation as it now exists and its relation to the future of this city.

"The West Indian hurricane which swept over an area of 60 miles on the Atlantic coast on September 18, extending 30 miles north and 30 miles south of Miami, was by far the most severe and destructive storm that ever touched the mainland of the United States. Miami in her 30 years of existence has never been materially damaged before.

"There was a great amount of damage to buildings through their unroofing, the breaking of windows and the blowing down of poorly constructed buildings in the outlying districts. The larger business buildings, the better constructed homes, hotels and apartments were mostly damaged by the breaking of glass and in some instances the coverings of roofs were loosened or blown off and thus the heavy rain created the most damage. There was great destruction to the tropical palms and foliage.

"The electric light plant, water and gas systems were put out of commission. The water and gas service now is normal. The electric system has been restored in the central business district and service to large residential areas is being added daily.

"The most regrettable part of the storm was the number of deaths which totals 106 to date in Dade County. There were 854 injured placed in regular and temporary hospitals, 450 of whom have been discharged. The citizens' committee did heroic work the first few days in caring for the injured. However, this work has now been taken over by the Red Cross and this organization is handling the situation with the utmost efficiency.

"Small buildings in outlying districts, cheaply constructed, were blown down. It was in these and in houseboats that the greatest number of deaths occurred. There was great damage done to yachts and pleasure boats, but most of these will be put in shipshape order for the coming season.

​"It is remarkable that a city of 160,000 or more people should have gone through such a severe storm with comparatively so small number of dead and injured. This is accounted for by the fact that this city has the largest percentage of concrete buildings of any city in the United States.

"Of the 150 hotels in Miami, Miami Beach and Coral Gables, 75 per cent were not damaged to any great extent. The year around hotels are operating as usual. Of the 1,200 apartments, 70 per cent received little damage. All hotels and apartment houses will be completely repaired and put in first class condition within 60 days.

"There are thousands who have lost all and are destitute and who must have financial aid in order to get back upon a self-supporting basis. These are the smaller home owners, smaller tradesmen, workers and people of very moderate means. It is to aid these people that the citizens' relief committee and the Red Cross issue their appeal for assistance. That need is acute and genuine.

"But there are other thousands who have the finances or can make satisfactory arrangements to restore their own homes and replace effects damaged or destroyed. These are contributing to the aid of their destitute neighbors, but financing their own losses makes it impossible for them to contribute in sufficient amounts to supply all the urgent needs. Miami greatly appreciates the spontaneous sympathy which has been shown by the American people as expressed by President Coolidge.

"In the six days that have passed since the storm, this city has come back with a speed that is absolutely amazing. No one who has not been on the ground, checking up the progress, can realize the tremendous recovery a united, courageous, indefatigable citizenship has made.

"Day and night, with little sleep, tens of thousands of men and women have cooperatively labored, not only to relieve the suffering, to feed the hungry, to house the homeless, but to repair, rebuild and to remove the debris left in the wake of the storm.

"I want to give positive assurance that our friends will find Miami this winter the same enjoyable, hospitable, comfortable vacation city it has always been.

"I predict that Miami will make a world comeback. The people here have the enthusiasm, the will to do, an unshaken faith in the ​future of this great city. It is the same people who have created the fastest growing city in America who are now turning their energies and enthusiasm to the work of reconstruction in Miami.

The following was among the first of several bulletins issued by the Miami health department under the direction of Dr. A. W. Ziebold:

"The possibility of typhoid fever from our infected water supply is very apparent. The public is requested to report to the various stations for typhoid vaccination against this disease. It is also urgently requested that all water be boiled before using for drinking purposes. The various stations are listed below:

"Allapattah School House, N. W. 17th Avenue at 36th Street; Silver Bluff Fire Station, S. W. 22nd Avenue, one block south of Tigertail Road; Coconut Grove Fire Station, Coconut Grove; Little River Fire Station, West Dixie Highway at 79th Street; Jackson Memorial Hospital, N. W. 10th Avenue at 17th Street; Orange Glade School House, S. W. 8th Street at 27th Avenue; Lemon City High School, N. W. 2nd Avenue and 62nd Street.

"These stations are equipped to give vaccine and first aid to all those in the immediate vicinity and if the public will direct them to go to such stations and make a careful report of all injured, it will materially assist in bringing about a quick result."

The order was signed by J. W. Snyder, Medical Director.

Prompt action was taken to prevent profiteering, warning being issued the day after the storm addressed to all dealers in food supplies, signed by City Manager Frank H. Wharton and approved by Acting Mayor James H. Gilman:

"Any one found guilty of profiteering in food supplies of any description will be subject to immediate arrest, their places of business closed, license revoked, and all food supplies found on the premises confiscated. Citizens are urged to report any violation of this proclamation to the Mayor's Committee, at the City Hall. What is meant by profiteering is the exacting of prices in excess of those current on Friday, September 17, 1926."