1960 — Sep 9-14, Hurricane Donna, eastern US coast and PR, esp. PR/107 and FL/13– 151

— 50 Dunn and Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised). 1964, p. 340.
— 50 Dunn. “The Hurricane Season of 1960.” Monthly Weather Review, March 1961, p. 101.
— 50 Hebert, Jarrell, Mayfield. The Deadliest, Costliest…[US] Hurricanes… Feb 1993, p. 80.
— 50 Jarrell et al. The Deadliest, Costliest…Most Intense U. S. Hurricanes…1900 to 2000. 2001
— 50 NOAA. National Hurricane Center. Hurricane History. “Donna.”
— 50 Sav. Natural Disasters: Some Empirical and Economic Considerations. 1974, p. 14
— 44 Blanchard tally of U.S. fatalities noted below by State.
— 41 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960

Blanchard note: While we show six sources above which note exactly 50 U.S. mainland deaths we have only been able to substantiate 44 deaths associated with some sort of detail – State, locality, cause of death, victim identification, etc. Thus, we use 44 as the U.S. mainland death toll in that it is what we can substantiate. None of the sources noting 50 deaths provides a breakout or other supporting numbers.

Summary of Fatalities by State

Florida (13)
Maryland ( 2)
Massachusetts ( 3)
New Hampshire ( 1)
New Jersey ( 9)
New York ( 3)
North Carolina ( 8)
Pennsylvania ( 1)
Vermont ( 1)
Virginia ( 3)
US State death toll 44

Puerto Rico, Sep 6 (107)

Grand Total (151)

Breakout of Fatalities by State and Locality (where noted):

Connecticut ( 0)
–0 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 108.

Delaware ( 0)
–0 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 108.

Florida (13)
–13 Barnes. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, p. 210.
–13 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
–13 Dunn. “The Hurricane Season of 1960.” Monthly Weather Review, March 1961, p. 101.
–13 Dunn, Gordon E. and Banner I. Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised). 1964, p. 340.
–13 Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Donna Loses Punch; Out Over Atlantic,” 9-13-1960.
–12 NOAA. NWS FO, Miami-South Florida. Hurricane Donna.
–6 Drownings
–1 Electrocution
–4 Heart attacks
–1 Vehicular accident
–12 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 109.
Breakout of Florida fatalities by locality, where noted:
— 2 Bonita Springs. General store demolished; George Brainerd, 55, and Lindy Lindau, 50.
— 1 Daytona Beach. Drowning; blown into Halifax River; Mrs. Hanson Cutler, 57.
— 1 Fort Myers area, Edison Bridge. Truck driver killed when simi-trailer jackknifed.
— 1 Homestead. Car “skidded from a windblown highway into…tree.” Jerry Peeples, 19.
— 1 Islamorada, FL Keys. Mrs. Buck Grundy swept away as she and husband sought high ground.
— 2 Key Largo area. Bodies of two men found. Barnes. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, 205.
— 1 Key West. Weather Bureau. Special Storm and Flood Report by the American Red Cross.
— 1 Marathon, FL Keys. Barnes. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, p. 205.
— 1 Tavernier, FL Keys. Body of unidentified man found.
— 1 Volusia County. Weather Bureau. Special Storm and Flood Report by the American Red Cross.
— 1 Winter Haven. Weather Bureau. Special Storm and Flood Report by the American Red Cross.

Maine ( 0)
–0 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 110.

Maryland ( 2)
–2 Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties. Storm Data, V2/N9, Sep 1960, p. 111.

Massachusetts ( 3)
–9 Barnes. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, p. 211. (BWB: Can find no supporting evidence.)
–3 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 111.
–1 Salem Willows. Electrocution. 15-year-old boy came into contact with downed power line.

New England ( 6)
–6 Newport Daily News, RI. “New England Mops up from Hurricane,” Sep 13, 1960, p. 1.
–5 Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Donna Loses Punch; Out Over Atlantic,” 9-13-1960.

New Hampshire ( 1)
–1 Barnes. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, p. 211.
–1 Sagamore Creek. James E. Breslin of Stratham, lost from his Star of the Sea cruiser.
–0 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 112.

New Jersey (9)
–9 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 112.
–5 State. Newport Daily News, RI. “N.J. Counts Donna’s Loss in Millions,” 9-13-1960, p. 11.
–4 State. Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Donna Loses Punch; Out Over Atlantic,” 9-13-1960.
–4 Blanchard tally based on cause of death and locality breakouts below.
–3 “auto accidents related to the storm…on rain and wind swept roadways.
–1 High Beach. Drowning. Dr. Thurlow C. Nelson, attempting to tie down his rowboat.

New York ( 3)
–4 State. Naugatuck Daily News, CT. “Donna Loses Punch; Out Over Atlantic,” 9-13-1960.
–3 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 112.
–2 Drownings.
–1 Tree fall.
–1 Hyde Park. Tree falls on truck crushing driver, Herbert Ballien, 49, of Wappinger Falls.
–1 NYC. Mrs. Rosemary Ciaffaone, 59, killed by car as she was crossing street in heavy rain.
–1 Windham. Drowning. Paul Alley, 42, chief of fire dept., swept away by rapid stream water.

North Carolina ( 8)
–11 Barnes. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, p. 211. (Can find no supporting sources.)
— 8 Assoc. Press. “Donna Leaves Marks.” The Robesonian.” Lumberton, NC. 9-14-1960, 1.
— 8 Barnes, Jay. North Carolina’s Hurricane History (Third Edition). 2001, p. 304.
— 8 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
— 8 Dunn. “The Hurricane Season of 1960.” Monthly Weather Review, March 1961, p. 101.
— 8 Dunn, Gordon E. and Banner I. Miller. Atlantic Hurricanes (Revised). 1964, p. 340.
— 8 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 112.
–3 Drownings.
–1 Electrocution.
–2 Tree falls.
–2 Vehicular accidents “in which weather was a factor.”
Breakout of fatalities by locality where noted.
–2 Johnston County. Vehicular accident; Lovette Sherrell, 42 and Melvin McRae Thompson, 23.
–2 Pitt County. Oak trees fell on two different homes.
–3 Roanoke Sound near Nags Head. Coastguardsmen swept from causeway.
–1 Everett Barnett
–1 Frank Collins
–1 Ben Mann; all of Manteo and on leave from the cutter Ingham.
–1 Wilmington. Coast Guard electrician John Flood.

Pennsylvania ( 1)
–1 Sharon Hill, Eastern PA. Boy swept to his death in a rain-swollen creek behind his home.

Puerto Rico, Sep 6 (107)
–107 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 113.

Rhode Island ( 0)
–0 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 113.

South Carolina ( 0)
–0 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 113.

Vermont ( 1)
–1 Barnes. Florida’s Hurricane History. 1998, p. 211.
–1 Bennington. Auto accident fatality “was indirectly attributed to slick roads.”
–0 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 108.

Virginia ( 3)
–3 Weather Bureau, US Dept. of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 2, No. 9, Sep 1960, p. 115.
–2 Barge and freighter collide.
–1 Man attempting to safeguard his boat.

Other Than FL & NC, US ( 29)
— 29 Dunn. “The Hurricane Season of 1960.” Monthly Weather Review, March 1961, p. 101.

Narrative Information

Dunn: “Hurricane Donna, August 29-September 13. – Donna, the one major hurricane of the season and the most destructive ever to strike Florida, was detected by aerial reconnaissance on the afternoon of September 2 near 14 [degrees] N., 49 [degrees] W. Maximum observed surface winds at that time were 120 kt. And there was a well-developed eye with a central pressure of 973 mb. The existence of a tropical storm or hurricane ad been indicated earlier in the day by surface ships, apparently on the fringes of the circulation, which reported shifting winds up to 45 kt., and pressures as low as 1004 mb….

“On September 9, Donna skirted the northeastern coast of Cuba, bringing gales and heavy rains to much of the island, then took a west-northwest course, toward the Florida Keys. The center crossed over the middle Keys just northeast of Marathon between 0200 and 0300 EST on September 10. It is estimated that sustained winds near the center reached 120 kt. and momentary gusts were at least 155 kt….

“Shortly after it passed the longitude of Puerto Rico, Donna slowed considerably in forward speed and moved at 6 to 10 kt. Until it reached the Florida Keys on the 10th….

“The eye passed over Naples and Fort Myers as the hurricane turned northward, moved inland, and then continued northeastward to re-enter the Atlantic just north of Daytona Beach about 0400 EST, September 11. Sustained winds of over 90 kt. With gusts of 100 to 130 kt. Probably occurred on the lower west coast from Everglades City to Naples and there were sustained winds of near hurricane force with higher gusts near the center as it moved across the peninsula….

“The storm surge on the Florida Keys reached as much as 13 feet above normal levels and was generally 8 to 12 feet some 40 miles to the northeast of the track and 20 miles to the southwest. Destruction from the combination of wind and water in this area ranged from major to almost complete. Tide departures tapered off to the north to 3 to 4 feet above normal in the Miami-Palm Beach area. On the southwestern Florida coast, the storm surge was locally up to 11 feet above normal. The surge reached as far north as Naples, and Fort Myers reported levels 4 to 7 feet above normal….

“Donna began a gradual acceleration as it moved through northeastern Florida and was advancing at about 12 kt. When it passed into the Atlantic. Rapid re-intensification occurred over the ocean and when the center was about 80 miles southeast of Charleston, S.C., on the afternoon of September 11, the SS Mae reported winds of 105 kt. And 20- to 30-foot seas….

“When Donna again reached the ocean, it resumed its rapid movement with a forward speed of 30 to 35 kt., moving northeastward a short distance off the coast and crossing Long Island shortly after noon on September 12. Winds of about hurricane force, but with gusts locally to about 90 kt., brushed the Maryland, Delaware, and southern New Jersey coasts. Residents at Ocean City, Md., described the storm as the worst in the city’s history. Damage to property in other areas along the immediate shore was heavy and considerable agricultural losses were suffered inland.

“Sustained winds reached about 90 kt. At several points on Long Island and 50 to 60 kt. On western Long Island and in New York City. Gusts of 100 kt. Or higher were reported at Montauk, L.I., and Block Island, R.I., and peak gusts reached or exceeded hurricane force east of the center through southern New England and northward to the New Hampshire coast area. Winds to the west of the track were somewhat less and there were no sustained hurricane-force winds reported on the mainland in New England except for isolated cases where local topographic effects were responsible….

“Donna was unique in that it gave hurricane force winds to Florida, the Middle Atlantic states, and New England. However, although it was one of the most destructive hurricanes of all time, loss of life was remarkably low. This can be attributed to three factors – timely and accurate warnings, effective dissemination by news media and other agencies, and the taking of proper precautions by the public. The accuracy of the warnings is in large part a reflection of the continuous tracking by aircraft reconnaissance and land-based radar, which was probably the most complete of any hurricane in history.” (Dunn. “The Hurricane Season of 1960.” Monthly Weather Review, March 1961, pp. 101-107.)

NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Forecast Office: “Sep 12…1960…When what was to be hurricane Donna moved off the coast of Africa, it downed a French airliner, killing 63. Hurricane Donna moved just N of the major Caribbean islands, curved to the NE passing through Key West, then became the only tropical system to affect the entire E coast from the tip of FL to the tip of ME with hurricane force winds. As Hurricane Donna, a CAT5 when just E of Puerto Rico, passed offshore NJ, the barometric pressure at PHL [Philadelphia] fell to 28.91″, the lowest pressure ever recorded in Sep (PHL). 2.73″ of rain had already fallen at PHL during the 3 days previous to the hurricane, and an additional 4.60″, a daily record, fell during the storm. NYC received 2.35″ for a daily record. On the 11th, the Delaware Breakwater, DE, measured a wind gust to 98 mph from the NW. On the 12th, ORF [Norfolk] gusted to 79mph/W, and PHL gusted to 52 mph/NE, with sustained winds of 49 mph. The gusts were the strongest winds recorded at those stations in 1960. At the Sandy Hook tide gage located on the bay side of Sandy Hook, Monmouth Co, NJ, the tide rose to a record height of 10.3′ above mean lower low water. This reading was tied during the Dec 11, 1992, storm. Severe tidal flooding begins at 8.7′ MLLW. Donna killed more than 364 people, putting this hurricane on The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 to Present, list. (More than 25 deaths needed to make the list) (PHL ) (NHC ) (NOS ) (NCC )(PHL).” (NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts…,” Oct 17, 2005.)

Florida

NOAA: “Hurricane Donna, the first major hurricane in Florida since the Miami storm of October 1950, was first detected in the tropical North Atlantic on September 2. Donna then traveled for some 2000 miles mostly in a west-northwest direction through the extreme north-eastern Antilles, passing some 70 miles north of Puerto Rico, info the Florida Straits. The center of the hurricane crossed over the middle Florida Keys between 2 and 3 a.m. on the 10th. After keeping a short distance off shore, it reached the coastline again south of Naples and then turned north and northeastward, passing out to sea a short distance north of Daytona Beach. Donna was one of the most destructive hurricanes to affect Florida in modern times. There were 12 fatalities in Florida, attributable either directly or indirectly to the storm. There were 6 deaths by drowning, 4 from heart attacks, 1 in an automobile accident and 1 electrocution…. In most localities subject to tidal inundation, evacuation either to the area outside or to designated places of refuge was 90 to 95 percent. Thus the loss of life per unit damage was the least of any major hurricane ever affecting Florida.

“Storm damages ranged from very severe on the middle Keys and on the southwest coast from Everglades City to Punta Gorda to relatively minor at northeast Florida points north of the storm track. Damage and rainfall, in general, were significantly greater and noticeable farther from the center on the right side of the track than on the left. Damages by wind and tide on the Keys ranged from almost complete destruction of all but the most substantial buildings in the Marathon-Tavernier area to loss of roofs, broken windows, water damages and battered boats and dock facilities at other points throughout the Keys. The Overseas Highway was overflowed by the storm tides at a number of places, and the road completely disappeared at bridge approaches at several points. The pipeline supplying the Keys with fresh water was broken in at least five places requiring water to be brought in by truck or boat. Tides at Tavernier were reported to be about eighteen inches lower than those associated with the famous Labor Day 1935 storm on the Keys. Preliminary surveys indicated that at certain points, tides probably reached at least 12 feet above mean low water. Tides in the Everglades City-Naples-Ft. Myers Beach area were estimated 4 to 7 feet above normal and perhaps even higher in some places. At Naples, tides pushed inland to the center of the city damaging buildings and smashing docks all along the intrusion. Everglades City, a town that had been largely evacuated, was also inundated by tides and about 50% of the buildings in that city were destroyed by tides and winds. Tides farther north were progressively lower as the winds in advance of the storm center were offshore on the Gulf coast and the center itself was travelling over land. On the gulf coast north of Bradenton and on the Atlantic coast north of the Palm Beaches, tides were mostly 1 to 3 feet above normal and tide damage was relatively minor. Tides in the Miami-Miami Beach ran mostly 2 to 4 feet above normal and tidal flooding in this area was not a major contributor to the over-all damage.

“At Sombrero Light, which was west of the area of strongest winds, the highest 1-minute wind velocity was 106 mph with gusts to 150. At Tavernier, the fastest recorded mile was 120 mph which was the highest point on the dial. The anemometer needle held solid against the 120 mph pin for 45 minutes. Tavernier also was a little outside the area of the strongest winds. The maximum sustained winds were estimated around 140 mph with possible momentary gusts of 175 to 180 mph on the Florida Keys. The Ft. Myers maximum sustained wind was 92 mph with gusts to 121. Sustained winds in excess of 100 mph with gusts possibly to 140-150 mph quite probably occurred at Naples and Everglades City. Gusts to 100 mph were measured as far north as Sarasota. In the greater Miami area, sustained winds of just about hurricane force were recorded briefly with momentary gusts at the Weather Bureau Office to 82 mph and the airport tower to 97 mph.

“Wind damage was enormous on the Keys and on the southwest coast from Everglades City to Punta Gorda. Even well outside these areas, the wind toppled thousands of trees, demolished many weaker buildings, blew off or damaged roofs, and shattered many windows. Wind driven rain added materially to the over-all storm damage throughout the area. Power and communications facilities fell throughout central and south Florida. A large part of the central peninsula citrus belt was subjected to the strong right side of the storm. Gusty winds uprooted or blew over trees on ridges and other unprotected locations, stripped the leaves off trees and blew fruit off many trees. Preliminary estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicated grapefruit losses between 25 and 35% of the state’s crop, and probably 5 to 10% of the state’s orange and tangerine crops were lost. The avocado crop was hit hard; most of the fruit was blown from the trees and the trees themselves sustained heavy damage.

”Reported heavy rainfall during this storm ranged from 5 to 10 inches in an 80 to 100 mile wide belt extending roughly 50 to 75 miles to the right of the storm track and 30 to 40 miles to the left of the track. Heaviest rains apparently fell on the extreme southern peninsula; reported totals in the Miami and south Dade County area were mostly 7 to 10 inches with a few totals near 12 inches. Rainfall data for stations south of Ft. Myers were apparently lost when gages were either blown away or tipped over. North of Ft. Myers, reported storm totals were mostly 5 to 7 inches with the greatest amounts reported in the central and southern sections of the area. The rainfall flood potential of this storm was augmented by antecedent rains. Rainfall during the three weeks prior to Donna totaled 6 to 10 inches over the affected areas, hence water tables and lake levels were relatively high just before the storm. Lake and stream overflow, especially in the central peninsula, forced evacuation of some homes. High waters also closed many roads and inundated considerable agricultural lands throughout the storm affected areas. from Climatological Data 1960.” (NOAA. NWS FO, Miami-South Florida. Hurricane Donna.)

Wikipedia: “Donna was the first hurricane to affect Miami since October 1950. The highest sustained winds were 92 miles per hour (148 km/h) at Fort Myers and 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) at Key West. Florida suffered significant losses from Donna, more than any other state. Damage in the Keys at the original point of landfall was most severe, where Donna’s winds and storm surge destroyed many buildings and vessels. A storm surge of 13 feet (4.0 m) was reported at Marathon.

“Portions of southern and western Florida received over 10 inches (250 mm) of rainfall from the hurricane. Large tracts of mangrove forest were lost in the western portion of Everglades National Park, while at least 35 percent of the white heron population in the park lost their lives. A total of 35% of the state’s grapefruit crop was lost, 10% of the orange and tangerine crop was lost, and the avocado crop was almost completely destroyed. Donna was the most damaging tropical cyclone to impact Florida up to that time. The day after the storm hit, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared a disaster area from the Keys up to Central Florida.” (Wikipedia. “Hurricane Donna.”)

Sources

Associated Press. “Crews Restoring Utility Services Disrupted by Donna.” North Adams Transcript, MA. 9-14-1960, 1. Accessed 9-26-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/north-adams-transcript-sep-14-1960-p-1/

Associated Press. “Death Toll Climbs to 8.” News Tribune, Fort Pierce, FL. 9-12-1960, p. 1. Accessed 9-26-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-pierce-news-tribune-sep-12-1960-p-1/

Associated Press. “Donna Leaves Marks.” The Robesonian.” Lumberton, NC. 9-14-1960, p. 1. Accessed 9-26-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lumberton-robesonian-sep-14-1960-p-1/

Associated Press. “Donna Rips Fort Myers; Fort Pierce Takes Blast.” Sunday News Tribune, Fort Pierce, FL. 9-11-1960, p. 1. Accessed 9-26-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-pierce-news-tribune-sep-11-1960-p-1/

Associated Press. “Donna Takes Five Lives in Sweep Across State.” High Point Enterprise, NC. 9-13-1960, p. 1. Accessed 9-26-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/high-point-enterprise-sep-13-1960-p-1/

Associated Press. “Hurricane Donna Churns Northward.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL. 9-12-1960, p. 1. Accessed 9-26-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sarasota-herald-tribune-sep-12-1960-p-1/

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