1970 — Oct 5-10, Tropical Storm, flooding, Puerto Rico –50-52

Puerto Rico (18-52) [18 confirmed deaths, 34 missing.]
–18-52 Frank. “Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1970.” Monthly Weather Review, 99/4, Apr 1971, p.284.
–18 Deaths.
–34 Missing.
–18-52 Confirmed dead (18) and missing (34). NWS. Flooding in Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I.
— >50 Dead and missing. Associated Press. 10-12-1970.
— 50 Dead and missing. Associated Press. 10-11-1970.
— 50 EDS, NOAA. “Losses in Individual Severe Floods in the United States since July 1902.” 22/13, 1971, 792.
— 18 USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.
Locality data:
–4 Caguas area, Turabo River. Bridge collapses into river. Four persons missing.
–7 Canóvanas area. Vehicle swept from bridge into “rampaging waters.” Occupants missing.

Elsewhere (not included in death toll above for Puerto Rico)

Barbados ( 5)
–5 Associated Press. “Puerto Rico Flood Toll.” Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS, 10-7-1970.

Virgin Islands ( 1)
–1 AP. “Continual Flooding Plagues Puerto Rico…” Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, TX. 10-8-1970, p.25.

Narrative Information

Frank: “Four of the depressions [of 1970] were noteworthy and deserve special comment. From the standpoint of damage, by far the most significant was the depression that brought record-breaking floods to Puerto Rico and adjacent islands in October. During the 6 days when this depression wandered aimlessly over the eastern Caribbean, a deluge of more than 30 in. of rain wrought havoc in Puerto Rico, accounting for 18 deaths, 34 missing, and property damage estimated at $65 million (in the U.S. Virgin Islands, one person was killed). The highest rainfall total for the 6 days was 38.4 in. in the Jayuya area, with some 24-hr totals ranging up to 17 in. The rainfall for the event exceeded any known previous record including the 1899 and 1928 hurricanes.

“The depression formed over Africa and passed off the coast about 300 n.mi. south of Dakar on September 23. As the system approached the Antilles Islands, residents were alerted of the possibility of tropical storm formation, even though the presence of an upper troposphere trough in the eastern Caribbean did not favor significant intensification. The depression moved through the Antilles with winds and pressure hovering near the required values for a tropical storm. The center assed over St. Lucia Island where a minimum pressure of 1004 mb was recorded. Under the influence of the upper trough, the depression slowed down, and a rain shield spread northeastward over the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, with heaviest amounts concentrated in the vicinity of Puerto Rico.

“The depression finally responded to the influence of upper westerlies on October 8 and accelerated toward the northeast. Ship reports were not sufficient to confirm the track indicated on the 12th, but satellite pictures suggest the remains of the system continued toward the northeast and experienced a second phase of intensification southeast of the Azores. Trapped by a blocking High, the depression turned westward and passed through the Azores with a central pressure of 994 mb before finally being absorbed into the westerlies.” (Frank. “Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1970.” Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 99, No. 4, April 1971, p. 284.)

USGS: “During October 5-10, the eastern two-thirds of Puerto Rico was subjected to excessive rainfall from a stalled tropical storm. As much as 38.4 in. of rain fell in Puerto Rico over a 6-day span (Environmental Sciences Services Administration, 1970). Eighteen persons lost their lives as a result of flooding, and damages were estimated at $68 million (Paulson and others, 1991).” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.)

Newspapers

Oct 5: “San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) — The National Weather Service issued this advisory on a tropical depression in the Caribbean:

Satellite information and ship reports indicate that the apparent center of the depression at 6 a.m. was about 200 miles south of Santo Domingo City in the Dominican Republic. This is near the center of the eastern Caribbean Sea and around 230 miles north-northwest of Curacao. It continues to move in a westerly direction at about 9 miles per hour.

The area affected by the depression is growing larger with clouds and rain across all the islands to the north of the system and some rain still falling in the Windward Islands over 500 miles to the east. The central pressure this morning was estimated to be near the center with gusts in squalls to 50 m.p.h. to the north and east of the center. Not much change in intensity is expected during th next 12 hours.

With rain continuing north and east of the tropical depression, all residents from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to Haiti should continue precautionary measures against possible flooding.”

(AP. “Tropic Depression Kept Under Watch.” Del Rio News-Herald, TX. 10-5-1970, p. 2.)

Oct 7: “San Juan, P.R. (AP)– The death toll on Puerto Rico and Barbados rose to seven Tuesday from a tropical storm whose rains have destroyed hundreds of homes and caused damage estimated at more than $15 million in four days. More rain was expected over much of the Caribbean. Gov. Luis A. Ferre [PR] asked the federal government to declare the commonwealth a disaster area because of flooding that forced the evacuation of 4,000 persons. Two deaths were reported.

“The same storm caused five deaths and millions of dollars in damage in Barbados during the weekend. Deputy Prime Minister Cameron Tudor said the island’s schools will be used as shelter for the hundreds driven from their homes there.” (AP. “Puerto Rico Flood Toll.” Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS, 10-7-1970.)

Oct 8: “San Juan, P.R. (AP) — Twelve persons have died in flooding since the weekend in Puerto Rico Barbados and in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A tropical storm continued dumping heavy rain on the eastern Caribbean and the U.S. Weather Bureau predicted Wednesday [Oct 7] night it would grow worse.

“Six were reported dead in Puerto Rico, five in Barbados and one in the Virgin Islands.

“Rivers overflowed and more than 5,000 persons were evacuated to higher ground on this Caribbean island, where the Weather Bureau said 20 inches of ran has fallen in some areas in a three-day period. Puerto Rico’s Gov. Luis A. Ferre toured flooded areas Wednesday and said the floods were the worst in the island’s history. The civil defense director of Puerto Rico, Ramon F. Calderon, estimated property losses would exceed $23 million. He said 40 per cent of the island’s coffee crop was destroyed….” (AP. “Continual Flooding Plagues Puerto Rico; 12 Perish.” Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, TX. 10-8-1970, p. 25.)

Oct 9: “San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) — Gov. Luis A. Ferre sent a formal request to President Nixon Thursday [Oct 8] to declare Puerto Rico a disaster area because of floods that have taken seven lives and caused heavy damage. Ferre said in a telegram that federal funds are needed because of losses from the flood amount to $23 million, including $15 million in damage to public property such as roads and bridges. Private property damage was given as $8 million. He also noted 3,000 are homeless. Ferre declared a state of emergency in the island, giving the government power to fix prices for such essentials as food, clothing, medicines, house-hold goods and construction material. He set up an emergency fund to channel private aid to flood victims….

“Heavy rains poured down in Puerto Rico for the fifth straight day and the Weather Bureau said the tropical depression that brought on the downpours was centered over the Dominican Republic, It was raining heavily in that country.” (Associated Press. “Puerto Rico Asks Flood Damage Area Funds.” Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, FL, 10-9-1970, p. 20.)

Oct 10: “San Juan, P.R. (AP) — The toll of dead and missing climbed to 34 Friday as torrential rains lashed flood-stricken Puerto Rico for the fifth straight day. Gov. Luis A. Ferre took a 90-minute helicopter tour and described the destruction as ‘incredible.’ ‘In the history of Puerto Rico there has been nothing like this,’ Ferre said….The Civil Defense director, Ramon F. Calderon, said at least 25 persons were injured, 2,500 families had to flee their homes, 600 homes were destroyed and 1,000 damaged. He said the cost of the destruction would ‘surpass $50 million.’….

“An automobile with seven persons were swept off a low bridge into rampaging waters near Canóvanas on the island’s low-lying eastern coastal plain. No trace or the car or its occupants was found.

“Four persons were missing after a bridge collapsed under them on the raging Turabo River near Caguas. Three others were rescued.

“Twenty bridges were either damaged or destroyed and roads throughout the island were impassable. The weather bureau said at least 16 major rivers were at flood stage, along with countless smaller streams. The weather bureau in San Juan said, however, the ‘crisis is over’ and predicted ‘conditions will definitely improve.’

“The weather bureau said the tropical depression causing the rain has moved off to the northeast, with the bulk of the rain now falling north of the island.

“The most water-soaked place during the five days of rain, the weather bureau said, was Jajme Alto, located in the central part of the island near Cayey, fell there during the period, with more than 33 inches of water, the bureau said.” (AP. “Caused by Flooding: Puerto Rico Dead, Missing Toll Hits 34.” Amarillo Daily News, TX, 10-10-1970, p. 12.)

Oct 11: “San Juan, P.R. (AP) — Civil defense officials said Saturday 50 persons were dead or missing from week-long torrential rains that caused the most destructive floods in Puerto Rico’s history….Over a six-day period, eight island municipalities recorded more than 20 inches of rain. Jajome Alto, in the central region, recorded 36 inches.

“An estimated 700 National Guardsmen answered a call for volunteers for relief work after National Guard Commander Alberto Pico asked for 250 volunteers.

“Many towns were still flooded and some had no electricity or water services. Three U.S. Air Force Base on the island’s west coast with relief supplies from the United States. [sic]

“Gov Luis A Ferre has asked President Nixon for $10 million immediately to help ease the situation….

“In San Juan, more than 1,000 persons woke up Saturday morning in an old army hospital that was reconditioned to house flood victims. An estimated ten thousand persons were homeless. Hundreds of houses were destroyed and dozens of bridges and highways shut down….” (AP. “Puerto Rico in midst of nation’s worst flood.” Lowell Sunday Sun, MA, 10-11-1970, A7.)

Oct 12: “San Juan (AP) — Puerto Rico is slowly recovering from one of its worst catastrophes in history after floods left at least 50 dead or missing….The sun shone Sunday [Oct 11] for the first time in more than a week and the tropical depression that brought all the rain to this Caribbean island had moved far out into the Atlantic, the National Weather Service reported.

“Thousands of Puerto Ricans were cleaning debris from inland towns, especially Barceloneta, west of San Juan; Aibonito, a small town in the central mountain range; and Coamo, on the south coast….

“A former Army hospital has been opened and 1,500 refuges were being transferred there from schools and community centers.

“Cataño, across the bay from San Juan, still was partly under water. On Saturday night, truck after truck of clothing, food, medicine and furniture arrived in the town from the metropolitan area….” (AP. “10,000 Left Homeless By Puerto Rico Flood.” Florence Morning News, SC, 10-12-1970, A3.)

Sources

Associated Press. “10,000 Left Homeless By Puerto Rico Flood.” Florence Morning News, SC, 10-12-1970, A3. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/florence-morning-news-oct-12-1970-p-3/

Associated Press. “Caused by Flooding: Puerto Rico Dead, Missing Toll Hits 34.” Amarillo Daily News, TX, 10-10-1970, p. 12. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/amarillo-daily-news-oct-10-1970-p-12/

Associated Press. “Continual Flooding Plagues Puerto Rico; 12 Perish.” Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, TX. 10-8-1970, p. 25. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lubbock-avalanche-journal-oct-08-1970-p-25/

Associated Press. “Puerto Rico Asks Flood Damage Area Funds.” Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, FL, 10-9-1970, p. 20. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-walton-beach-playground-daily-news-oct-09-1970-p-20/

Associated Press. “Puerto Rico Flood Toll.” Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS, 10-7-1970. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biloxi-daily-herald-oct-07-1970-p-1/

Associated Press. “Puerto Rico in midst of nation’s worst flood.” Lowell Sunday Sun, MA, 10-11-1970, A7. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-oct-11-1970-p-7/

Associated Press. “Tropic Depression Kept Under Watch.” Del Rio News-Herald, TX. 10-5-1970, p. 2. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/del-rio-news-herald-oct-05-1970-p-2/

Environmental Data Service, NOAA. “Losses in Individual Severe Floods in the United States since July 1902.” Climatological Data National Summary (Annual) Vol. 22. No. 13, 1971. Accessed 4-13-2023 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Climatological_Data_National_Summary/m_gG1xDxctMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Climatological+Data+National+Summary%22+december+%221955%22&pg=PA792&printsec=frontcover

Frank, Neil. “Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1970.” Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 99, No. 4, April 1971, pp. 281-285. Accessed 2-28-2018 at: ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/mwr/099/mwr-099-04-0281.pdf

National Weather Service. Flooding in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. “Floods of October 5-10, 1970.” Accessed 2-28-2018 at: http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/states/pr-flood.shtml

United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. Accessed 11-12-2016 at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1