Florida had about 3 million people at this time. The water and wind rushed into the dining room at the Naples Beach Hotel, and sucked the tables and chairs into the Gulf. Most high-rise condos were built after Hurricane Andrew. "The sun was shining. "(Leaving) wasn't really encouraged by the media and the authorities. "The economics in Naples was pretty down, but the storm came through and immediately there was an infusion of $33 million in insurance claims.". "But, we have frequently said that Donna was a blessing," Watkins said. She's talking about Hurricane Donna - which made landfall on the same day as Irma 57 years ago. That money, he said, helped Naples bounce back and pave the way for what it is today. news@naplesnews.com ... Damage caused by … When the eye came through, they looked outside and all seemed calm. "You can do nothing about the wind or the water.". Calling for help: Florida senators call for help for the Bahamas after Hurricane … So rather than retreating, Pfaff, now 75, said he and his family hunkered down in their Bow Line Drive home and rode out the storm. tuvista@naplesnews.com The area hit most intensely was Marathon to Tavernier. "They had destruction and destruction," she said. #searchlist h2 {font-family:'Myriad W01 SmBd', sans-serif; color: #616161; font-size: 0.81255em; /* 13/16 */ line-height: 1.1em; text-transform: uppercase;} When the Watkins family returned to their home on 14th Avenue South after the storm, the house was intact, but the porch facing the Gulf had been torn off, lifted over the house and dropped on the driveway. Other 20th-century storms that made landfall on Long Island at hurricane intensity include the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, Hurricane Donna in 1960, Hurricane Belle in 1976, and Hurricane Gloria in 1985. Over $900 million in damage was done (1960 USD). Today's Paper, also known as the e-Edition, is an online replica of the printed newspaper. The worst previous hurricane to hit the New York City area was Donna, which struck the East Coast on Sept. 19, 1960, killing 36 persons and causing an estimated $100 million in property damage. Damage from Donna was most severe in coastal counties, where numerous boats, docks, boardwalks, and cottages were damaged or destroyed. I think people realized that it was going to be a severe storm, but the community was different and the people were different. "It was fascinating to me to see the camaraderie, the congeniality and the loving togetherness," she said. ", .searchbrowse-wrap {width:100%; margin: 0 0 10%; padding: 0 0 5% 0; border-bottom: 1px #e5e5e5 solid;} The 1960 hurricane forced the evacuation of thousands on Long Island and in New Jersey, High winds knocked out electricity and telephone service for about 25,000 New Yorkers and the Board of Estimate had to approve $200,000 for the removal of uprooted trees. "It was like a phoenix out of the ashes, everyone worked together in such a loving matter. "It came into the courthouse about a foot. Old-timers have said Collier County hasn't seen a storm like it since. At least 364 people were killed by the hurricane. instead of the hard times. There wasn't as much mobility," David Pfaff said. Over $900 million in damage was done (1960 USD). It remains the only storm to bring hurricane force winds to Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and New England. "The Beach Club is a shell," Mary Watkins wrote in a letter to her mother after the storm. Hurricane Donna. The storm may have done a lot of damage, but Pfaff said in some ways it was a blessing in disguise for the community as a whole. Reynolds, her family and a couple of friends rode out the storm at the Koni Kai, an apartment complex in Coquina Sands. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Hurricane Donna was a very destructive hurricane. "It improved the community in many ways," she said. It made a lot of damage from the Lesser Antilles to New England. It was a beautiful day," Smith said of the day she left town. The hurricane caused $25 million (1944 USD) in damage and nine deaths in the state. It was like that everywhere, Smith said. The last major storm in the New York metropolitan area was in June 1972, when Hurricane Agnes tore for 10 days along the Eastern Seaboard. Joe Williams' prayers were answered: River Park apartments didn't fall down. The phone lines were out, but Pfaff said a friend helped him find an open line that allowed him to call United Press International, a news wire service he occasionally worked for, and give a report about conditions in Collier County. "It's pretty amazing, the force of nature," she said. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Windows broke, palms snapped and water and sand rushed into rooms near the shore. The hotel had been newly renovated for the season, but the storm left it with "no furniture in the dining rooms, lobby, bar, anywhere. , accessed 5 December 2020. The night before Donna arrived, Watkins and her family took refuge at a friend's house. The Category 1 hurricane left damage all around the Coastal Bend, mostly in the form of destroyed piers, sunken boats and flooded neighborhoods. Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas Hurricane Donna had already clawed out a claim as one of the 20th century's most destructive and deadly storms when it began heading up … Her boys, ages 7 and 9, crowded onto her lap in fear and a friend's daughter hid in the closet. Jay Schlichter The name Donna was retired. In spite of the high winds, the Bradenton/Sarasota area … This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Then at 11:30 a.m., the eye came, but it wasn't over yet. About half the people who lived in the apartments stayed, while the other half went to the bowling alley at Pine Ridge Road and U.S. 41 N. for shelter. See the article in its original context from. Sustained winds of 85 mph with gusts over 100mph was recorded In parts of Texas. He'd never ride out a storm like Donna at home again, Williams said. The maximum rainfall for hurricane Donna was 13.25 inches with wind gusts of 150 mph. "We were on the second floor, upstairs," remembered Williams, pastor of Triumph Church in River Park. like the generosity that followed after the storm ? But they knew what was coming, so they abandoned their second-floor apartment and rode out the second half of the storm in a neighbor's downstairs apartment. Florida also received 152.4- 304.8 mm (6-12 in) of heavy rainfall (all other locations received 101.6- 203.2 mm [4-8 in]). Donna resulted in three deaths in New Jersey and caused considerable damage to piers and beachfront homes. The second half of the storm was worse, Watkins remembered. Following Hurricane Donna in 1960, significant hurricanes did not affect Connecticut until Hurricane Gloria came along in 1985. Phone: 239-263-4785. ul.searchbrowse li {margin:0 0 5%; font-size:0.75em; /* 12/16 */ } The $1.6 million in damage she caused was lady-like in comparison to Charley’s $500 million. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. In all, the storm caused approximately $2 billion in damages. It made a lot of damage from the Lesser Antilles to New England. See more ideas about hurricane donna, hurricane, green pond. There wasn't as much mobility.". Everglades City's grocery store was located at sea level at the time, and Colding said everything was destroyed. Paralleling the coastline offshore, the hurricane caused heavy damage near the coastline from high waves and winds. 1950–1979. Hurricane Donna damage around 1935 hurricane monument - Upper Matecumbe Key, Florida. "As a result, insurance money was good to us and it put people back to work. Every year, the Naples Daily News receives hundreds of applications from community groups requesting publicity for their events or for sponsorship. You can view today's paper or previous issues. Colding wasn't just worried about his home, north of Everglades City, in the days and weeks after Donna. 1960. The city also experienced widespread damage during Hurricane Donna in 1960. Colding was Collier's property appraiser at the time, and said there was some concern that government property located in Everglades City would be harmed because of the storm. Contributor(s) Daily Reflector (Greenville, N.C.) Date September 12, 1960 - September 13, 1960: Call Number "In the late ?50s and early ?60s the U.S. was in what was then called the Eisenhower recession," he said. Here are the memories of some: The walls shook like paper and the windows blew in, but the Rev. The electricity went out, but Colding said he was "born before electricity" and knew how to deal without it for the three weeks he was without it. Learn how the Naples Daily News may be able to support your community event », The Banner Insurance and construction regulations, as well as evacuation orders, were among the changes made after the storm. 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