lornajarrettblanchard

–10 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1976-2000.”
–10 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A–Z.” (S).
–10 Kodiak Daily Mirror, AK. “St. Patrick survivor recalls harrowing night.” 11-30-2018.
— 9 AK Bur. Ocean Energy Mgmt., Reg., Enforce. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.

Narrative Information

Alaska Bureau Ocean Energy Management: “Dec 2, 1981…F/V [fishing vessel]…St. Patrick…Abandoned…5 mi W of Marmot Island, near Kodiak…9 lost.”

Alaskashipwreck.com: “1981…Saint Patrick…SC [south central area]…138 Foot…Steel Scallop Trawler…10 [lives lost]…2 [lived].” (Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1976-2000.”)

Alaskashipwreck.com: “Saint Patrick (1981). 10 crewmen were lost when the 138 foot steel diesel screw scallop fishing trawler Saint Patrick was abandoned November 30, 1981 five miles east of Marmot Island near Kodiak. The vessel had been laboring in heavy weather when she took a wave that laid her over and prompted the captain to order all to abandon ship. Only two of the 12 person crew survived. Lost were skipper Cornelius Green (37) of Hampton VA, mate James Jobe (23) of Norfolk VA, engineer Wilson Pair (28) of Hampton VA, deck boss Clifford Steigal (32) of South Bend WA, cook Vanessa Sandin (23) of Kodiak, Randal Ryker (21) of Springfield OR, deckhand Tom Kauppinen (20) of Norfolk VA, deckhand Charles Parlett (24) of West Point VA, deckhand Ronald Newton (23) of Lexington NE and deckhand Gary Todd Stallings of Live Oak FL [10 names]. The vessel was found to be substantially lacking in lifesaving gear and crew experience. Wallace R Thomas (23) of Saint Augustine FL and Robert Kidd (28) of Warwick RI were the only survivors. The two suffered from severe frostbite and hypothermia when rescued from frozen beaches more than a day after the disaster. The Saint Patrick was found damaged and adrift in outer Marmot Bay days later. She was towed to Womans Bay and subsequently sank.

“Mapping and Location: South Central Alaska 57 43 N 152 31 W Chart 16580.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 458 Gross 240 Net, Length 138.2, Breadth 27.2, Depth 13.8, Built 1948 at Bath ME, Former Name Saint Patrick French, Horsepower 750, SL WO5233, ON 293243.

“Sources: 1. Unofficial Shipwreck List (Kodiak), 2. BOEM Alaska Shipwreck List (2011), 3. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1978) Pg 1106, 4. The Greensboro Record (December 3, 1981) “Seven still missing from shipwreck” Pg C 14.” (Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A–Z.” (S).)

Dec 2: “By Paul Jenkins, Associated Press Writer.

“Anchorage (AP) – The search is expected to resume in the storm-tossed Gulf of Alaska Wednesday [Dec 2] for more survivors from the 138-foot scallop-fishing vessel St. Patrick, abandoned by its crew when it was smashed by a huge wave. The search was halted late Tuesday by rising winds and seas after two survivors were plucked from the beach of Afognak Island, north of Kodiak, aid Lt. Larry Hazel. Three unidentified bodies were recovered in the surf along Marmot Island. Two other bodies were spotted near Marmot Island, east of Afognak Island, by a Coast Guard helicopter. They were not recovered because of deteriorating weather, Hazel said.

“A Kodiak-based charter pilot sighted the battered St. Patrick on Monday [Nov 30], adrift in heavy seas near Izhut Bay. He said it was listing to starboard in heavy swells, with several lines hanging from its stern. An orange, canopied 10-man life boat bobbed in the sea nearby. It was empty, he said.

“One survivor, Wallace R. Thomas, was being treated in Kodiak, where hospital authorities listed his condition as fair. The second survivor, Robert Kidd, was aboard the cutter Confidence. His condition was unknown….

“Thomas told Coast Guard officials the St. Patrick’s 12-member crew was ordered to abandon the rust-brown and white vessel shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, after the huge wave swept the boat, Hazel said. The 458-ton vessel was located about five miles east of Marmot Island when the crew fled.

“It was not known whether all the crewmen left the vessel in lifeboats or were wearing survival suits when they went into the 34-degree water, Hazel said. ‘That part of the story is really sketchy,’ he said. ‘We still have people talking to the survivors.’

“The five bodies recovered were all clad in survival suits, Hazel said. It was not known if the survivors were wearing the suits.

“By late Tuesday, the St. Patrick had been taken in tow by the 68-foot tug Ruby 14. It was awaiting a break in the weather before returning to Kodiak.

“Fred Ball, co-owner of Air Transport Services Inc., said when he spotted the St. Patrick at midday Monday it was drifting a half-mile offshore, near Izhut Bay, on the southeast side of Afognak. ‘It was sitting sideways in the swells, It was rocking fairly violently,’ he said. ‘The seas were running at 10 to 15 feet.’….” (Daily Sentinel, Sitka, AK. “Coast Guard Searches Gulf For Fishing Boat Survivors.” 12-2-1981, p. 1.)

Sources

Alaska Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses. Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/alaskas-worst-all-time-shipping-losses

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1976-2000.” Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/alaska-shipwrecks-1729-2012/alaska-shipwrecks-1971-1990/

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A–Z.” (S). Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-s/

Daily Sentinel, Sitka, AK. “Coast Guard Searches Gulf For Fishing Boat Survivors.” 12-2-1981, p. 1. Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-sitka-sentinel-dec-02-1981-p-1/

Kodiak Daily Mirror, AK. “St. Patrick survivor recalls harrowing night.” 11-30-2018. Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/article_9a58079e-f4f1-11e8-8765-5b202c150f90.html

— 8  NTSB HAR. Pacific Intermountain/Eagle…Truck…Collision…Canon City, CO, 14Nov1981

 

Narrative Information

NTSB: “Synopsis

“About 8:10 a.m., m.s.t., on November 14, 1981, a westbound tractor cargo tank semitrailer loaded with approximately 9,000 gallons of gasoline sideswiped an eastbound tractor-lowboy semitrailer while attempting to negotiate a right-hand curve on a three-lane highway near Canon City, Colorado. When the cargo tank of the westbound vehicle was punctured during impact, fire erupted and rapidly engulfed the two accident vehicles and a passenger car not involved in the impact. In addition to extensive property damage, eight vehicle occupants were killed and two seriously injured as a result of the postcrash fire.

 

“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the Pacific Intermountain Express truck driver to maintain his vehicle within the proper traffic lane during an evasive maneuver in a right curve at a speed in excess of the vehicle’s critical overturn stability. Contributing to the driver’s loss of control was the driver’s cumulative fatigue. Contributing to the accident severity and loss of life were the puncture of the cargo tank and the ignition of the released gasoline cargo immediately following impact.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

“As a result of its investigation of this accident, the National Transportation Safety Board made the following recommendations:

 

to the Pacific Intermountain Express Company:

 

“Establish qualifications and standard procedures for selecting new hire hazardous material drivers, and insure that the established qualifications and procedures are adhered to before a driver is allowed to perform driving duties. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-82-19)

 

“Incorporate in its Driver’s Manual for the Bulk Commodity Division, a requirement for drivers transporting bulk hazardous materials to promptly report the receipt of specified traffic citations, and a statement of company policy as to disciplinary actions which will be taken in the event of speeding or other unsafe driving practices. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-82-20)

 

to the National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc.:

 

“Disseminate to its membership, especially hazardous material carriers, the circumstances of this accident and urge the member companies to establish qualifications and standard procedures for selecting new operators of hazardous material vehicles. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-82-21)

“In addition to these recommendations, the Safety Board reiterates and urges expedited action on the previous recommendation made to the Federal Highway Administration on February 15, 1980, concerning disqualification rules for driver of commercial vehicles transporting hazardous materials and other commodities:

 

“Evaluate the need for, and feasibility of, specifying in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations a threshold level of traffic violations, based upon the total number and relative seriousness of the violations, above which a driver is disqualified to operate a commercial vehicle, and within 1 year publish the findings of the evaluation in the Federal Register for public comment or initiate appropriate rulemaking. (H-80-17).” (NTSB HAR. Pacific Intermountain/Eagle…Truck…Collision…Canon City, CO, 14 Nov 1981.)

 

Newspaper

 

Nov 15: “Seven people died and three were injured Saturday [Nov 14] when a tanker carrying 8,600 gallows of gasoline sideswiped a flatbed truck and burst into flames on a twisting mountain highway west of Canon City. The blast and fire charred a 1,000 foot stretch of U.S. highway 50, consumed the tanker and a passenger car and burned the flatbed truck, witnesses said. The Colorado State Patrol said the car carried six people and that all were killed[1]….A passenger in the tanker was also killed….The driver of the tank truck, Frederick James, 48, of Gunnison was listed in critical condition at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver. He suffered burns over 80 percent of his body, a spokesman said. Leroy E. Shilling, 39, of Morton, Miss., was in critical and unstable condition at Penrose Hospital with second- and third-degree burns over 75 percent of his body, a nursing supervisor said. He was driving the flatbed truck, the patrol said. A passenger in Shilling’s truck…[female], 26 of Jackson, Miss., was in critical condition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. She has second-and third-degree burns over 50 percent of her body….

 

“…travelers who came upon the gruesome scene along the Arkansas River said the intense heat and flames kept them from assisting the victims….” (Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. “7 burned to death as gas tanker, truck collide.” 11-15-1981, p. 1.)

 

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Inferno on Highway 50 killed longtime friends.” Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, CO, 11-16-1981, p. 2A. Accessed 5-23-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-nov-16-1981-p-2/?tag

 

Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. “7 burned to death as gas tanker, truck collide.” 11-15-1981, p. 1. Accessed 5-23-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-telegraph-nov-15-1981-p-1/?tag

 

National Transportation Safety Board. Highway Accident Report. Pacific Intermountain Express Tractor Cargo Tank Semitrailer, Eagle/F.B. Truck Lines, Inc., Tractor Lowboy Semitrailer Collision and Fire, U.S. Route 50, Near Canon City, Colorado, November 14, 1981 (NTSB HAR-82/03; NTIS PB82-916203). Washington, DC: NTSB, adopted June 22, 1982. Accessed at: http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/1982/HAR8203.htm

 

 

[1] The victims were friends on their way to a funeral in California. Identified as Marvin Cleo Johnson, 66, and his wife, Ruby, 67, both of Canon City; Dan Miller, 60, of McClave; Naomi King, 72, of Canon City; Vernal King, 43, of Comanche, Texas, and his wife Suzanne, 36. “The other victim was Connie James, 32, from Gunnison, the wife of a truck driver involved in the accident.” (AP. “Inferno on Highway 50 killed longtime friends.” Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, CO, 11-16-1981, p. 2A.)

— 15  Blanchard tally of fatalities by State noted below

— 12  NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 11, November 1981, p. 5.

— 11  National Weather Service Forecast Office, Portland, OR. Some of the Area’s Windstorms.

 

Oregon           (10)

–10  Blanchard tally of fatalities based on locality breakouts below.

—  7  NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 11, November 1981, p. 6.

—  2  Clackamas/Washington/Multnomah Co., Nov 14am. NCDC. Storm Data, 23/11, Nov 1981, 12.

—  4  Coos County, Nov 13 evening. NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 11, Nov 1981, p. 12.

—  1  Lincoln County, Tillicum Beach State Park, Nov 13-14. Male; wind blew tree onto trailer.[1]

—  1  Linn County, Albany, Nov 14. Male, 53; tree fell through his mobile home as he slept.[2]

—  1  Washington Co.. Nov 14. Male, 50, electrocuted when he picked up downed power line.[3]

—  1  Off OR coast, Nov 14. Coast Guard pilot when his helicopter crashed in 60-knot winds.[4]

 

Washington    (  5)

–5  NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 11, November 1981, pp. 6 & 13.

–1  Auburn, Nov 14-15. Male when tree fell through his bedroom while he slept.

–1  Bellevue, Nov 14-15. Male crushed when tree fell on his tent.

–1  Maury Island, Nov 13. Electrocution; man, 69, tried to move downed power line.[5]

–2  Mukilteo, Nov 14-15. Drownings; two men blown from their boat; sailing race.

 

Narrative Information

 

NCDC: “Pacific Northwest Cyclones on November 13-15. A strong mid-latitude cyclone formed over the Pacific Ocean about 1000 miles west of San Francisco, Ca. and intensified rapidly while approaching the Oregon coast. The once in 20 year storm, reaching a minimum pressure of 956 mb at 1800 PST on Friday the 13^th produced statewide damaging winds in Oregon and Washington. A second cyclone, which followed the first some 36 hours later, deepened to a 988 mb minimum pressure….

 

“As it passed near the coast, the accompanying winds caused widespread damage and 12 deaths, 7 in Oregon and 5 in Washington. Strong winds were also encountered in northern California, and as much as 4 feet of snow fell in the Sierra Nevadas….

 

“In Seattle, spray from Lake Washington was blown over the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge by the strong winds. The bridge sustained $300,000 to $400,000 damage and was closed for 11 hours as the winds, funneled by the lake shores, gusted to 75 mph.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 11, Nov 1981, pp. 4-6.)

 

NWS Weather Forecast Office, Portland, OR: “November 13-15, 1981

“The strongest wind storm since the infamous Columbus Day storm of 1962 struck the Pacific Northwest with a one-two punch combination. The first punch was delivered Friday, November 13, and early Saturday, November 14, when an intense low-pressure area tracked northward 150 to 200 miles west of the Oregon coast. The central pressure of the low was 958 millibars (mb), 2 mb lower than the 1962 storm, but the storm track was about 90 miles farther west of the 1962 storm track. The second punch was delivered on Sunday, November 15, when a second somewhat weaker low pressure area following a track similar to the first storm caused strong winds over the area again. These winds occurred as people were still recovering from the effects of the first storm.

 

“Strong winds spread into the Pacific Northwest from the south the evening of Friday, November 13. Wind gusts as high as 75 mph and 62 mph were observed at Brookings and Medford, respectively. North Bend recorded gusts to 92 mph, the strongest official wind gust of the storm. An unofficial report of gust above 100 mph were recorded by an anemometer located at the Whiskey Run wind generator site owned by Pacific Power and Light Company in Curry county, Oregon from 9 pm PST to midnight. Other significant recorded wind gusts were: Coos Bay with 40 mph, Chetco River 75 mph, Eugene 58 mph, Salem and Portland both with 71 mph. Winds spread in Washington during the morning of November 14. Hoquiam reported wind gusts to 70 mph, Seattle to 67 mph, and Olympia to 64 mph. Strong winds also spread as far east as Boise and Reno, where gusts to near 100 mph were reported.

 

“The second storm spread winds to near 60 mph along the Oregon coast beginning Saturday morning, November 15. Portland recorded wind gusts to 57 mph, Boeing Field near Seattle had wind gusts to 48 mph, SEA-TAC airport had gusts to 51 mph, and Olympia airport had wind gusts to 58 mph.

 

“The November 13-14 storm did the most damage. However, the one-two punch of the two storms resulted in more damage from the weaker, second storm than normally would have been expected. Eleven people were killed and $50 million in damage were reported as a result of the two wind storms. This compares to 38 fatalities and damage in excess of $200 million for the 1962 Columbus Day storm.

 

“The fatalities attributed indirectly to the first storm included a 53 year old Albany, Oregon man, who was crushed when a tree fell on his mobile home; a 50 year old Portland man was electrocuted when he picked up a live wire that had fallen across his driveway; a 64 year old man who suffered a heart attack and died while crawling out of the wreckage of his trailer at Tillicum Beach State Park after a tree had fallen on it; and a Coast Guard pilot was killed when his helicopter crashed off the Oregon coast in 60 mph winds while searching for a missing fishing boat. Many other deaths occurred in traffic and boating accidents.

 

“Numerous injuries resulted from wind-blown debris in western Washington and Oregon. Damage was widespread, including hundreds of downed trees and power lines across the Pacific Northwest. Roof damage was common. For example, on November 14, winds ripped of the 2,500 square feet roof of the Homestead Restaurant in North Bend, Oregon. Downed power lines caused massive power outages. Estimates indicated that nearly 500,000 homes were without power for at least a short time during the weekend. Damage to standing timber was extensive from Washington to northern California. In northern California, winds toppled a dozen five-feet thick redwood trees across U.S. 101, blocking traffic for hours.

 

“Bridges also took a beating during the storm. The Columbia River bridge at Astoria was closed at 2:45 pm Saturday because of high winds. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge on Lake Washington in Seattle was closed at 8:00 am Saturday because of high winds and water flowing into traffic lines. The bridge experienced extensive damage to anchor cables and wave deflectors.

 

“There was also considerable damage to marine interests from both strong winds and wave action. At Newport, Oregon, several fishing boats broke their moorings and were beached, while a 300 foot dock broke away and was totally destroyed. According to port officials, damage estimates at Newport reached nearly $3 million. In Seattle, Saturday morning’s high winds pushed an anchored freighter several miles across Elliott Bay. It was finally intercepted by tug boats, within 20 feet of destroying a downtown pier. At the Port of Portland, a 1,100 foot tanker broke loose and bumped another ship moored nearby. Port spokesperson said the ship’s bow line broke, allowing it to swing out “like a big steel sail.” Olympia’s West Bay Marina was heavily damaged with estimates well over $1 million. Four hundred and fifty boats were in the marina before the storm struck. After the storm, some boats were blown from their moorings and found as far away as 10 miles to the north.

 

“Many airports across Oregon and Washington suffered damage. At the Hillsboro airport, one airplane was flipped upside down and several hangers were damaged. Three light planes at Salem’s McNary Field were damaged by winds that flipped them on their backs Friday night….”  (National Weather Service Forecast Office, Portland, OR.  Some of the Area’s Windstorms.  )

 

Sources

 

Associated Press (Jane See White). “6 killed, 6 missing as storms lash East, West coasts.” The Register, Orange County, CA, 11-15-1981, A2. Accessed 5-23-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-orange-county-register-nov-15-1981-p-2/?tag

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 11, November 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 22 pages. Accessed 5-23-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.2826125272316621

 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Portland, OR. Some of the Area’s Windstorms. Accessed 11-12-2009 at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/paststorms/wind.php

 

Sistek, Scott. “Remembering the great Friday the 13^th storm of 1981.” KOMO News, Seattle, 11-13-2010. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: http://komonews.com/weather/scotts-weather-blog/summer-forecast-in-the-northwest-trending-hot-again

 

 

[1] AP (Jane See White). “6 killed, 6 missing as storms lash East, West coasts.” The Register, Orange County, CA, 11-15-1981, A2. Notes that the Salem, OR, victim died when “the winds felled a tree on his camping trailer.” The NCDC, at p. 12, simply notes a Lincoln County fatality, without details. Identifies victim as Floyd W. Russell who apparently died from a heart attack trying to get out of the crushed trailer. Also: NWS WFO Portland. Some of the Area’s Windstorms.

[2] AP (Jane White). “6 killed, 6 missing as storms lash East, West coasts.” The Register, Orange County, CA, 11-15-1981, A2. Victim identified as Grady E. Scarborough. Also: NWS WFO Portland. Some of the Area’s Windstorms.

[3] AP (Jane See White). “6 killed, 6 missing as storms lash East, West coasts.” The Register, Orange County, CA, 11-15-1981, A2. Washington County is, as the article notes, to the west of Portland. Article notes the “live wire…had fallen across his driveway” and that “The jolt knocked him into a ditch filled with water.” NWS WFO Portland refers to this as “a 50 year old Portland man was electrocuted when he pickup up a live wire that had fallen across his driveway.” (Some of the Area’s Windstorms.)

[4] AP (Jane White). “6 killed, 6 missing as storms lash East, West coasts.” The Register, Orange County, CA, 11-15-1981, A2. Writes that the pilot was searching for a missing fishing boat; copter went down in 30-foot seas. Victim was identified as Capt. Frank W. Olson, 44, commander of the North Beach, OR Coast Guard air station. Another source notes that there were three aboard the helicopter and all initially survived the crash. Capt. Olson, however, had been knocked unconscious and drowned. Other two crewmembers were close enough to shore “rode the surf to shore.” (Sistek, Scott. “Remembering the great Friday the 13^th storm of 1981.” KOMO News, Seattle, 11-13-2010. Also: NWS WFO Portland. Some of the Area’s Windstorms.

[5] AP (Jane See White). “6 killed, 6 missing as storms lash East, West coasts.” The Register, Orange County, CA, 11-15-1981, A2. Victim identified as Frederick Fisk. Article notes that high winds had toppled a tree outside his home, bringing the line down. Maury Island is in Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, and northeast of Tacoma.

 —  11  Hoboken Fire Department. “Hoboken Fires: Important Fires in Hoboken History.”

—  11  Jones. “1981 Multiple-Death Fires in the U. S.,” Fire Journal, V.76, N.4, July 1982, 68.

—  11  New York Times. “Hoboken:  Fear of Fire Haunts Many,” November 8, 1981.

—  11  NFPA. The U.S. Fire Problem. “Home Fires…Ten or More Fatalities (1980-2007).” 2008.

—  11  Syracuse Herald Journal.  “11 Killed in Blaze.” October 24, 1981, p. 25.

—  11  Syracuse Herald Journal. “Apartment Fire Kills 11.”  October 25, 1981, p. 6.

 

Narrative Information

 

Hoboken Fire Dept.: “1981: An arson fire claims 11 lives at a tenement at Twelfth and Washington Streets.” (Hoboken Fire Dept. “Hoboken Fires: Important Fires in Hoboken History.”)

 

Newspapers

 

Oct 24, Associated Press: “Hoboken, N.J. (AP) — Fire swept through an apartment house in Hoboken’s business district today, killing 11 people, including seven members of one family, police said.  Seven of the dead were members of a family that came to New Jersey from Puerto Rico, police said. None of the family members survived, according to authorities.  The four other victims were Cuban refugees, according to police.”  (Syracuse Herald Journal.  “11 Killed in Blaze.” October 24, 1981, p. 25)

 

Oct 25, Associated Press: “Hoboken, N.J. (AP) — A smoky fire raced through a five-story apartment building yesterday and killed 11 people, including a family of seven Puerto Rican immigrants and another family of four Cuban refugees, officials said.  Three children and three teenagers were killed in the blaze. Two apartment house residents were hospitalized, and fire officials said about 10 residents were left homeless. Five members of the Puerto Rican family were found dead at a front window on the fifth floor, police said.  “Apparently they were looking for someone to rescue them,” said a police officer.

 

“The fire apparently started in the first-floor hallway of the five-story brick building, fire officials said.  Authorities said they had not determined the cause late Saturday.  A police officer who was one block away when the alarm sounded at 4:13 a.m. said the building was fully ablaze when he arrived….”  (Syracuse Herald Journal. “Apartment Fire Kills 11.”  Oct 25, 1981, p. 6.)

 

Investigators were later to attribute this fire to arson:

 

Nov 8, New York Times: “…for most people who live on the clean, tree-lined streets of Hoboken’s brownstone revival neighborhoods, life is comfortable. The homes are well kept and an air of a community is on the rise. But for many residents of the city’s less-fashionable tenements, fear, not comfort, is their constant companion. Standing outside the five-story tenement in which she lives, Brigita Rodriguez said: ”I have three children, and I’m afraid for them. Me and my husband, I don’t care so much, but our children -they’re afraid.” And with good reason. On Oct. 24, the building next door, at 1202 12th Street, caught fire at 4 A.M. Within two hours, 11 of its 21 tenants, including seven children who once played with Mrs. Rodriguez’s youngsters, were dead.

 

“That blaze was the second fatal fire here in three weeks. The first, in the early hours of Columbus Day, killed two brothers 7 and 2 years old.  Investigators have attributed both fires to arson…. The most recent fires have been a reminder of Hoboken’s history of arson. Since March 1978, 41 persons, including 30 children, have died in arson-related fires. To date, no one has been convicted. ”People are very frightened. They’re still in mourning now, but the fear will return soon,” said Sister Norberta of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, who has organized Por La Gente (For the People), a tenants’ group formed to fight arson.  Despite their fears, Sister Norberta said that most of the residents, even those who have survived the fires, will continue to live in the same tenements because there is no affordable housing elsewhere.

 

“Hoboken’s vacancy rate is generally 1 percent or less, according to city officials. Many in the tenants’ group, including Sister Norberta, maintain that the spiraling ”gentrification” movement here, an upgrading of housing by more-affluent people, is a major cause for many of the successful and unsuccessful arson attempts. Insurance money is coupled with the enormous profit potential in apartment rehabilitations and renovations, they say.  ”Is this the price we have to pay for renaissance?” asked Sister Norberta, who said that many deteriorating tenements were ”standing in the way” of the gentrification movement.

 

“Others concerned with Hoboken’s problem, and arson in general, say that the tenants’ claims could be valid in certain situations. However, they contend that gentrification is only one factor that must be considered among those relating to arson.

 

“Insurance companies review changing patterns of development within a city, vacancy rates, rent control, the conditions of a building and a landlord’s financial situation in all arson investigations, according to the American Insurers Alliance, a trade association representing more than 100 insurance companies nationwide.

 

“Despite all these factors, Joseph Cucci, Alliance vice president, said that many landlords who might be considered bad insurance risks were still able to obtain fire insurance in New Jersey. A state mandated insurance pool for property owners – it is similar in concept to the automobile insurance pool – is the reason, he explained.  ”Conceivably,” Mr. Cucci went on, ”you could get insurance, set a torch to a building five days later and still apply for another insurance policy.”

 

“If the prevention of arson is difficult, the arson conviction rate is almost nil. Nationwide, the rate is less than 1 percent, according to a 1980 Department of Justice survey on arson in urban centers. The survey also attributed to arson at least 1,000 deaths and property damage amounting to $1.5 billion.

 

“Mayor Steve Cappiello acknowledges that Hoboken has a ”very serious” arson problem. It is a city in transition, he said, with wide extremes in housing and styles of living that are not easily reconciled. The Mayor conceded that he was ”not happy” with all aspects of the city’s much-heralded renaissance. He says that many longtime residents have left because of the lure of high profits for their homes or prohibitively high rental prices. The prices for many of this city’s apartments and homes, he asserted, are ”overrated.”  Even so, Mr. Cappiello said he did not believe the majority of fires here represented arson for profit. Deputy Fire Chief Edward McDonald agrees.  ”Sometimes, they’re just started by mischievous kids,” Chief McDonald said. ”A lot of times they’re just playing, but people still die.”  He noted that the January 1979 fire that killed 21 persons here was believed to have been set by a child who was among the victims. The Federal arson study supported the contentions of Mayor Cappiello and Chief McDonald. It showed that only 14 percent of all arson had a profit motive, that revenge, spite and vandalism accounted for the other 86 percent and that juveniles were responsible for 40 percent of all arson in 1980.

 

“Chief McDonald maintained that absentee landlords and deteriorating buildings were the major problems here. Whatever anger tenants might feel toward neglectful landlords, he said, the tenants must still exercise greater caution to prevent fires.  ”I’ve seen open wood fires on gas stoves when there is no heat,” Chief McDonald said. ”I feel sympathy for the tenants, but they don’t realize the danger they’re putting themselves in – and putting others in.”

 

“According to the majority of tenants, their greatest danger lurks outside, not inside, their buildings. Only last May, the building that burned at 1202 12th Street last month was set afire, and bottles filled with gasoline were found inside the hallway before they exploded. The tenants of that building suspect that the landlord may be a target for revenge, noting that another apartment house owned by the same person has had three arson attacks this year.

 

“To fight what they call their arson war, members of Por La Gente are stationing guards on rooftops to watch for arsonists. Other tenants have begun sleeping at the homes of friends or relatives.  ”If someone sets out to burn a building, we can stave them off, but we cannot stop them,” said Sister Norberta. ”And that’s no victory, I can assure you. With certain landlords, if they cannot get people out one way or another, fire might be a solution.”

 

“After the recent fires, city officials intensified inspections for fire-prevention and Building Code violations. Also, the City Council is pushing for an ordinance requiring smoke detectors in all multifamily dwellings with four or more housing units.

 

“The state has a similar regulation for multiple-dwelling units, but local officials said that the law lacked teeth and there was not sufficient manpower to enforce it. Despite the state law, there were no smoke detectors in either of the buildings that burned here last month.

 

With all the investigations and studies on arson, officials are still at a loss on how to stop it or apprehend those responsible for it. While he searches for answers, Chief McDonald said, he still finds it hard to believe people would risk the lives of others merely to collect insurance money.  ”If they’re going to do it,” he declared, ”they should do it at a time when people are not asleep. At 4 o’clock in the morning, even the insomniacs are in bed”.”  (NYT. “Hoboken: Fear of Fire Haunts Many,” Nov 8, 1981.)

 

Sources

 

Hoboken Fire Department. Hoboken Fires: Important Fires in Hoboken History. Accessed 3-5-2013 at: http://www.hobokenfire.org/fires.cfm

 

Jones, Jon C.  “1981 Multiple-Death Fires in the United States,” NFPA Fire Journal, Vol. 76, No. 4, July 1982, p. 68.

 

National Fire Protection Association. The U.S. Fire Problem. “Home Fires with Ten or More Fatalities (1980-2007).” Quincy, MA:  NFPA, April 2008 update. Accessed at:  http://www.nfpa.org:80/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=953&itemID=30981&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/The%20U.S.%20fire%20problem

 

New York Times. “Hoboken: Fear of Fire Haunts Many,” November 8, 1981. Accessed at: http://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/08/nyregion/hoboken-fear-of-fire-haunts-many.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “11 Killed in Blaze,” 10-24-1981, p. 25. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=21717793&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=2

 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY.  “Apartment Fire Kills 11.”  October 25, 1981, p. 6.  Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=38959781&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0

 

 

 

 

—  114  ASCE. The Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse. 1-1-2007.

—  114  Carper. “Forensic Engineering – the Perspective from N. American,” in Campbell 2001.

—  114  Delatte.  Beyond Failure: Forensic Case Studies for Civil Engineers. 2009, p. 10.

—  114  Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting.  “Hyatt Walkway.”

—  114  Ogot, M., and Gul Okudan-Kremer.  Engineering Design: A Practical Guide.  2004, 323.

—  114  Petroski.  To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design, 1992, 85.

 

Narrative Information

 

ASCE: “Situation. In July 1980, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, opened for business, boasting among its design features a multistory atrium with three suspended walkways-a fourth-story walkway spanning directly above a walkway on the second floor, with a third-story walkway offset by a few meters. One year after the opening, the walkways on the second and fourth stories collapsed under the weight of partygoers, killing 114 people in one of the most devastating structural failures in U.S. history in terms of lives lost.

 

“The collapse was traced to failure of the connections between the fourth-story box beams and the hanger rods supporting the second-story and fourth-story walkways. An investigation revealed that the original design sketches had called for the two walkways to be suspended by a single set of hanger rods threaded through the upper walkway box beams and terminating beneath the box beams of the lower walkway. Although that design proved to be in violation of Kansas City’s minimum load requirements, the primary cause of the failure was a change from the original design to a double-rod system, one hanger rod connecting the ceiling to the upper walkway and the other connecting the lower and upper walkways. This change had the effect of doubling the load on the upper walkway connections, resulting in a design capable of withstanding only an estimated 30 percent of the mandated minimum.

 

“The engineer of record attributed the fatal design flaw to a breakdown in communication. He stated that he had assigned supervision of the project to an associate structural engineer, who was not an ASCE member. As the engineer of record was responsible for roughly 10 associate engineers, each of whom supervised six or seven projects at a time, he acknowledged that he could not personally oversee every aspect of the design. Instead, he entrusted the responsibility to the associate in charge of each project.

 

“The engineer of record further contended that it was common practice in the industry for the structural engineer to leave the design of steel-to-steel connections to the fabricator. The original design provided in the structural drawings was intended only to be conceptual.

 

“When the fabricators found that design to be impracticable, they requested approval of the double-rod system by telephone. The structural engineer verbally approved the change, with the understanding that a written request for the change would be submitted for formal approval. This follow-up request was never honored. In fact, the fabricators had just begun work on the shop drawings when a sudden increase in workload required them to subcontract the work to an outside detailer. That detailer, in turn, mistakenly believed that the double-rod connection on the shop drawings had already been designed and therefore performed no calculations on the connection himself.

 

“The design documents were returned to the engineer of record with a request for expedited approval. He assigned review to a technician on his staff; however, the connections were not detailed on the drawings and the technician did not perform calculations on the connections. The structural engineer performed “spot checks” on portions of the shop drawings, and the engineer of record affixed his seal to the documents. The latter stated that he had not personally checked all calculations and had relied on the work of his project engineer and design team.

 

“Question. Did the engineer of record’s actions in placing his seal on design documents without verifying the soundness of the structural design violate ASCE’s Code of Ethics?

 

“Decision. “Canon 1 of the Code of Ethics at the time of the walkway collapse read as follows: “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties.” Category (a) of the guidelines to practice for canon 1 had this to say: “Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health, and welfare of the general public are dependent upon engineering judgments, decisions, and practices incorporated into structures, machines, products, processes, and devices.” Further, category (b) in the guidelines for that canon read as follows: “Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed or prepared by them, which are determined to be safe for public health and welfare in conformity with accepted engineering standards.”

 

“The Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC) was not persuaded by the engineer of record’s argument that each person in the design process was responsible for his or her own part of the work. Finding that the engineer’s seal made him responsible for all elements of the structural design, the CPC held that the member had violated the Code of Ethics, and it voted to recommend to the Board of Direction that he be expelled from the Society. However, the board disagreed as to the extent of the member’s ethics violation, holding that the engineer had been ‘vicariously responsible’ for the tragedy ‘but not guilty of gross negligence nor of unprofessional conduct.’ It voted to suspend the engineer from membership for a period of three years.

 

“Space does not permit a full exposition of the circumstances surrounding the Hyatt Regency collapse. Readers wishing a more thorough treatment of this subject are directed to the following articles:

 

Gillum, J.D. “The Engineer of Record and Design Responsibility.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities 14, number 2 (2000): 67-70.

 

Luth, G.P. “Chronology and Context of the Hyatt Regency Collapse.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities 14, number 2 (2000): 51-61.

 

Moncarz, P.D., and R.K. Taylor. “Engineering Process Failure-Hyatt Walkway Collapse.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities 14, number 2 (2000): 46-50.

 

Pfatteicher, S.K.A. “‘The Hyatt Horror’: Failure and Responsibility in American Engineering.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities 14, number 2 (2000): 62-66.

 

“Special thanks are in order to Paul R. Munger, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, for his contributions to this article.” (ASCE. The Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse. 1-1-2007.)

 

Carper: “Many current failures, including some very costly and prominent incidents, are the results of flawed management and project delivery systems rather than technical considerations.  One such failure was the 1981 collapse of the Hyatt Regency Hotel walkways in Kansas City, Missouri – a tragic event that claimed 114 lives…”  (Carper. “Forensic Engineering – the Perspective from N. American,” in Campbell 2001, p. 1.)

 

EESC: “On July 17, 1981, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City was hosting a Friday evening dance party. Above the lobby, two walkways supported dozens of party goers overlooking the festivities. Suddenly the walkways collapsed, killing 114 people.  Exponent engineers sifted through the wreckage for four days and concluded that the collapse occurred when a welded beam which supported one of the walkways failed.” (Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting.  “Hyatt Walkway.”

 

Rabins: “On July 17, 1981, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, held a videotaped tea-dance party in their atrium lobby. With many party-goers standing and dancing on the suspended walkways, connections supporting the ceiling rods that held up the second and fourth-floor walkways across the atrium failed, and both walkways collapsed onto the crowded first-floor atrium below. The fourth-floor walkway collapsed onto the second-floor walkway, while the offset third-floor walkway remained intact. As the United States’ most devastating structural failure, in terms of loss of life and injuries, the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkways collapse left 114 dead and in excess of 200 injured. In addition, millions of dollars in costs resulted from the collapse, and thousands of lives were adversely affected.” The hotel had only been in operation for approximately one year at the time of the walkways collapse, and the ensuing investigation of the accident revealed some unsettling facts, which are summarized in the case. “Due to evidence supplied at the Hearings, a number of principals involved lost their engineering licenses, a number of firms went bankrupt, and many expensive legal suits were settled out of court. The case serves as an excellent example of the importance of meeting professional responsibilities, and what the consequences are for professionals who fail to meet those responsibilities. This case is particularly serviceable for use in structural design, statics and materials classes, although it is also useful as a general overview of consequences for professional actions. The Hyatt Regency Walkways Collapse provides a vivid example of the importance of accuracy and detail in engineering design and shop drawings (particularly regarding revisions), and the costly consequences of negligence in this realm.” (Rabins, et al. “The Kansas City Hyatt Regency Walkways Collapse: A Case Study…”)

 

Sources

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse. 1-1-2007. Accessed 4-22-2019 at: https://www.asce.org/question-of-ethics-articles/jan-2007/

 

Carper, Kenneth L. “Forensic Engineering – the Perspective from N. American.” Chapter 1, in Campbell, Peter (Ed.).  Learning from Construction Failures: Applied Forensic Engineering.  Scotland: Whittles Publishing, 2001.

 

Delatte, Norbert J. Jr.  Beyond Failure: Forensic Case Studies for Civil Engineers. Reston, VA:  American Society of Civil Engineers Press, 2009.

 

Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting. “Hyatt Walkway.” Accessed 8-8-2009 at: http://www.exponent.com/kansas_city_hyatt_collapse/

 

Ogot, Madara, and Gul Okudan-Kremer. Engineering Design: A Practical Guide. Pittsburgh:  Togo Press, LLC, 2004.  Partially digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=M5BWtQ-xjeUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

 

Petroski, Henry. Design Paradigms: Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering. UK:  Cambridge University Press, 1994.

 

Petroski, Henry.  To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design.  NY: Random House, Inc., 1992, 251 pages.

 

Rabins, Michael, Ed Harris, Michael Pritchard, Lee Lowery. The Kansas City Hyatt Regency Walkways Collapse: A Case Study  in Engineering Ethics. Texas A & M. Accessed at: http://www.engineeringpathway.com/ep/learning_resource/summary/;jsessionid=G1NLDLTTPPDV3ABAVRSSFEQ?id=946F9946-6B58-4C3A-A1A0-DE5C79B0EBAD

 

 

—  10  AP. “Fiery Motor Home Crash Fatal to 10, Injuries 20,” Titusville Herald, PA. 6-27-1981.

—  10  Jones. “1981 Multiple-Death Fires in the U. S.,” Fire Journal, V.76, N.4, July 1982, 68.

—  10  National Fire Protection Program.  The 1984 Fire Almanac.  1983, p. 140.

—  10  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  FARS 1975-2010 Fatality Analysis.

 

Narrative Information

 

June 27, Associated Press: “San Bernardino, Calif. (AP) – A converted bus carrying seven families burst into flames and rolled into two other vehicles Friday, killing 10 people and injuring up to 22 others, officials said.  The accident occurred on a steep grade of Interstate 15 at Cajon Pass, 16 miles south of Victorville, said the California Highway Patrol. All but two of the victims were aboard the motor home officials said.  The bus, converted into a mobile home, was engulfed in flames.

 

“The blaze touched off a small brush fire that firefighters limited to five acres….

 

“Seven families – all related except for one child – were on the bus, troopers said. Trooper William Snell, one of the first on the scene, said the accident occurred after the bus began smoking.  ‘The driver pulled over to the side to check on it,’ he said.  ‘As he was looking under the back, there was a loud noise and the bus caught fire. It apparently burned through the brakes and the bus began rolling backward.  It hit a flatbed truck and a station wagon and continued to roll back.’  The bus rolled across the road and into a small ravine.  ‘They apparently couldn’t open the back door and people were running out the front door of the bus.  As I understand it, anybody who got off it (the bus) before it started rolling was OK,’ Snell said.

 

“The families were on their way to a Fourth of July reunion in Missouri, said officials at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where five of the injured were taken….”  (Titusville Herald (PA).  “Fiery Motor Home Crash Fatal to 10, Injuries 20,” June 27, 1981.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Fiery Motor Home Crash Fatal to 10, Injuries 20,” Titusville Herald, PA. 6-27-1981. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=104256286

 

Jones, Jon C.  “1981 Multiple-Death Fires in the United States,” National Fire Protection Association. Fire Journal, Vol. 76, No. 4, July 1982, p. 68.

 

National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1983.

 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Partial Data Dump of Crashes Involving 10 or More Fatalities, by Year, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 1975-2009 Final and 2010 ARF. Washington, DC: NHTSA, pdf file provided to Wayne Blanchard, 1-26-2012.

 

 

— 11  Forces of Nature. Avalanches. “Case Studies.”

— 11  King. “11 Climbers Missing on Mt. Rainier in Fall of Ice Wall.” NYT, 6-22-1981.

— 11  McClary. “Avalanche kills 11 climbers as they ascent Mount Rainer on June 21, 1981.”

 

Narrative Information

 

Forces of Nature: “Eleven mountain climbers are swept off the mountain’s face when a wall of ice and rock breaks off the face of a glacier and seeps downhill.  The bodies are buried under nearly 70 feet of ice and debris. The accident is thought to be the worst in the history of American mountaineering.  It happened as 29 climbers tried to scale 14,410-foot-high Mt. Rainier, the highest peak in Washington State.  They had reached the 11,000-foot mark when the ice fell…..”  (Forces of Nature. Avalanches. “Case Studies.”)

 

McClary: “On Sunday morning, June 21, 1981, 10 novice mountain climbers and one guide are killed by an immense avalanche of ice and snow on Ingraham Glacier while ascending to the summit of Mount Rainier (14,411 feet). A National Park Service board of inquiry will determine that the accident is a random event that could not have been predicted. The Rainier Mountaineering Inc. guides are held blameless. The bodies of the victims are entombed in a deep crevasse under tons of glacial ice and cannot be recovered. As of the summer of 2014, it will remain the worst mountaineering accident in American history….” (McClary, Daryl C. “Avalanche kills 11 climbers as they ascent Mount Rainer on June 21, 1981.” HistoryLink.org. 8-23-2014.)

 

Newspaper

 

June 22: “Paradise, Wash., June 21 — Eleven mountain climbers were believed dead after being swept off the face of Mount Rainier early today and buried by up to 70 feet of boulder-sized chunks of ice. The 11 missing persons, including 10 amateur climbers and one guide, were part of a 29-member group attempting to reach the summit of the 14,410-foot peak, the highest mountain in Washington State….The 18 other climbers were not in the path of the cascading ice, which broke off a glacier, and escaped with their lives. There was no report of injuries in the group of survivors….

 

“Gary Gregory, an information officer for Mount Rainier National Park, said that an ice fall occurs when a wall of ice breaks off a glacier. He said it was ”more dangerous and unpredictable” than an avalanche because it could occur any time of year, regardless of weather conditions. An avalanche usually involves snow and normally occurs as the weather warms, he said.

 

“The accident was described as the worst in the recorded history of Mount Rainier, the third highest peak in the continental United States. Officials at the Mount Rainier National Park said that 55 fatalities have occurred here since 1897. But in the worst previous accidents, in 1959 and 1967, three climbers were killed….

 

“The eleven missing persons were identified by the authorities as Tom O’Brien, a Seattle-area guide whose age was not given; Jonathan Laitone, 27 years old, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Mark Ernland, 29, of Renton, Wash.; Craig Tippie, 28, of Bellevue, Wash.; Ira Liedman, 30, of Hatfield, Pa.; Michael Watts, 36, of Mercer Island, Wash.; David Kidd, 30, of Arlington, Wash.; Henry Matthews, 38, of Auburn, Wash.; David Boulton of Seattle; Ronald A. Farrell, 21, of Bellevue, and Gordon Heneage, 42, of Seattle….” (King, Wayne. “11 Climbers Missing on Mt. Rainier in Fall of Ice Wall.” New York Times, 6-22-1981.)

 

Sources

 

Forces of Nature.  Avalanches. “Case Studies.” Accessed 3-28-2010 at: http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/avalanches/casestudies.shtml#21

 

King, Wayne. “11 Climbers Missing on Mt. Rainier in Fall of Ice Wall.” New York Times, 6-22-1981. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/22/us/11-climbers-missing-on-mt-rainier-in-fall-of-ice-wall.html

 

McClary, Daryl C. “Avalanche kills 11 climbers as they ascent Mount Rainer on June 21, 1981.” HistoryLink.org, The Free Encyclopedia of Washington State History, posted 8-23-2014 at: http://www.historylink.org/File/10796

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 6, June 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 42 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html

 

 

 

–345  Blanchard tally of fatalities based on State and local breakouts below.

–323  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—    6  National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No’s 6-9, June-September 1981.

 

Summary of Breakout of 1981 Heat-Related Fatalities by State

 

Alabama                     (13) 

Arizona                      (17) 

Arkansas                    (14) 

California                   (44) 

Connecticut                (  2) 

Florida                        (10) 

Georgia                      (32) 

Illinois                         (  4) 

Indiana                       (  2)

Iowa                            (12)

Kansas                        (  3) 

Kentucky                   (  2)

Louisiana                   (  6) 

Maryland                   (  3) 

Massachusetts            (  6) 

Michigan                    (  5) 

Minnesota                  (  4) 

Mississippi                  (11) 

Missouri                     (12) 

Nebraska                    (  6) 

Nevada                       (  5) 

New Jersey                 (  4) 

New Mexico               (  2) 

New York                   (16) 

North Carolina          (13) 

Ohio                            (  4) 

Oklahoma                  (10) 

Oregon                       (19) 

Pennsylvania              (  9) 

South Carolina          (13) 

Tennessee                   (  6) 

Texas                          (23) 

Virginia                      (  4) 

Washington                (  2) 

West Virginia            (  1) 

Wisconsin                   (  4) 

Wyoming                    (  2) 

 

Breakout of 1981 Heat-Related Fatalities by State

 

Alabama                     (13)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Henry County.                Male, 65-74

—  2  Jefferson County            Male, 65-74                 Female, 85+

—  3  Lee County                    Females, 1-4, 15-19    Male, 20-24

—  1  Marengo County            Female, 75-84

—  1  Marshall County            Male, 75-84

—  1  Montgomery County      Female, 25-34

—  1  Russell County               Female, 55-64

—  1  Sumter County               Male, 65-74

—  1  Tallapoosa County         Male, 35-44

—  1  Walker County               Female, 85+

 

Arizona                      (17)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900., excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Apache County              Male, 35-44

–11  Maricopa Co.  Females, 75-84, 85+; Males, 1-4, 35-44 (2), 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+

—  5  Yuma County                 Female, 45-54             Males, 55-64, not noted (3)

–2  Tacna area, July 8-9; bodies of illegal immigrants found.[1]

 

Arkansas                    (14)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Crawford County           Male, 65-74

—  1  Lawrence County           Male, 35-44

—  1  Lonoke County              Male, 55-64

—  2  Miller County                Female, 65-74             Male, 65-74

—  2  Mississippi County        Males, 25-34, 65-74

—  1  Monroe County              Male, 35-44

—  1  Phillips County              Male, 55-64

—  3  Pulaski County               Female, 25-34             Males, 25-34 and 45-54

—  1  Sebastian County           Male, 55-64

—  1  White County                 Female, 65-74

 

California                   (44) 

–44  Blanchard tally of heat-related fatalities based on locality breakouts below.

–43  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Contra Costa County     Male, less than one-year-old

–10  Imperial County             Female, 65-74 (2); Males, 35-44 (2), 55-64, 65-74 (3), unstated (2)

–1  Imperial County, Winterhaven, Sep 26. Male, 28, became lost in sand dunes.[2]

—  8  Los Angeles County      Females, 45-54 (2), 55-64 (4); Males, 25-34 and 55-64

—  1  Madera County              Female, 10-14

—  1  Orange County               Female, 75-84

—  1  Placer County                Female, 75-84

—  7  Riverside County           Females, 45-54, 55-64 (2)      Males, 25-34, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74

—  3  Sacramento County        Female, 10-14, 25-34              Male, 35-44

—  2  San Bernardino County Female, 55-64                         Male, 20-24

—  1  San Bernardino Co., Barstow, area, Mojave Desert. Female, 75, after car stuck in sand.[3]

—  2  San Diego County          Males, 55-64 and 75-84

—  2  San Joaquin County       Males, 35-44 and 45-54

—  2  San Mateo County         Males, 10-14 and 45-54

—  2  Santa Clara County        Female, 65-74             Male, 45-54

—  1  Tulare County                Male, 25-34

 

Connecticut                (  2)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Hartford County            Female, 85+

—  1  New London County     Female, 85+

 

Florida                        (10)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  4  Lushine. “Underreporting of Heat and Cold Related Deaths in Florida.” Figure 3.[4]

–10  CDC WONDER

–1  Alachua Co.         Male, 25-34

–1  Duval County       Male, 45-54

–1  Escambia Co.       Female, 65-74

–1  Hillsborough Co.  Male, 35-44

–1  Lake County        Male, 75-84

–2  Miami-Dade Co.  Female, 35-44             Male, 45-54

–1  Orange County     Female, 65-74

–1  Pinellas County    Male, 65-74

–1  Sarasota County   Male, 65-74

 

Georgia                      (32) 

–32  State. Blanchard tally of heat-related fatalities based on locality breakouts below.

–31  State. CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  2  Baldwin County             Males, 55-64 and 65-74

—  4  Bibb County                   Female, 75-84             Males, 35-44, 55-64, and 65-74

—  1  Bleckley County            Male, 65-74

—  1  Calhoun County             Female, 75-84

—  1  Clayton County              Male, 45-54

—  1  Colquitt County             Male, 35-44

—  1  Dekalb County               Male, 45-54

—  1  Fulton Co., Atlanta, July 17. Male teenage junior high school football player after practice.[5]

—  1  Fulton County                Male, 65-74

—  1  Hall County                    Female, 35-44

—  1  Jefferson County            Male, 45-54

—  3  Lowndes County            Female, 25-34               Males, 55-64 and 65-74

–10  Muscogee County          Females, 20-24, 35-44, 55-64 (2)

Males, 25-34, 45-54, 55-64 (2), 65-74 (2)

–7  Columbus, Muscogee County (6 during June 21-25).[6]

—  1  Peach County                 Female, 75-84

—  1  Richmond County          Male, 15-19

—  1  Telfair County                Female, 55-64

—  1  Washington County       Male, 35-44

 

Illinois                         (  4)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Cass County                   Male, 75-84

—  1  Champaign County        Male, 75-84

—  1  Cook County                  Male, 20-24

—  1  Madison County            Male, 65-74

 

Indiana                       (  2)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Lake County                  Male, 20-24

—  1  Wabash County              Female, 65-74

 

Iowa                            (12)

–12  State. CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Buchanan County          Male, 75-84

—  1  Lee County                    Male, 25-34

—  1  Marshall County            Male, 35-44

—  8  Polk County                   Females, 65-74, 75-84, 85+ (2);[7]

Males, 1-4,[8] 55-65,[9] 75-84, 85+[10]

—  1  Scott County                  Male, 25-34

–11 By July 14. UPI, “Heat wave claims 12^th victim.” The Telegraph, Nashua NH, 7-16-1981, 40.

 

Kansas                        (  3)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Dickinson County          Male, 75-84

—  1  Sedgwick County           Male, 65-74

—  1  Wichita County              Male, 35-44

 

Kentucky                   (  2)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Harrison County            Male, 75-84

—  1  Jefferson County            Male, 65-74

 

Louisiana                   (  6)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Bienville Parish              Male, 65-74

—  2  Caddo Parish                  Female, 65-74             Male, 45-54

—  1  East Carroll Parish         Male, 45-54

—  1  Morehouse Parish           Male, 25-34

—  St. Landry Parish                Male, 55-64

 

Maryland                   (  3)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  2  Baltimore City               Males, 25-34 and 35-44

—  1  Prince George’s Co.       Female, 55-64

 

Massachusetts            (  6)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Hampshire County         Female, 85+

—  1  Middlesex County          Male, 55-64

—  1  Norfolk County              Female, 75-84

—  3  Suffolk County              Females, 75-84, 85+   Male, 20-24

 

Michigan                    (  5)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Kalamazoo County        Male, 55-64

—  1  Sanilac County               Female, 75-84

—  3  Wayne County               Males, 35-44, 55-64 and 85+

 

Minnesota                  (  4)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  2  Hennepin County           Female, 35-44             Male, 25-34

—  1  Morrison County            Male, 65-74

—  1  St. Louis County            Female, 85+

 

Mississippi                  (11)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Alcorn County               Female, 75-84

—  1  Chickasaw County         Female, 75-84

—  1  Clay County                   Female, 85+

—  1  Forrest County               Female, 65-74

—  1  Hinds County                 Male, 55-64

—  1  Rankin County               Male, 45-54

—  1  Simpson County            Female, 55-64

—  1  Smith County                 Male, 75-84

—  1  Warren County              Female, 75-84

—  1  Washington County       Male, 65-74

—  1  Wayne County               Female, 65-74

 

Missouri                     (12) 

–~12  MO DHSS. “Heat Related Illnesses/Deaths (Hyperthermia).” 5-2-2008.

—  12  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

–2  Buchanan Co.       Female, 85+    Male, 85+

–7  Jackson County    Females, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84 (2); Males, 24-34, 35-44, 75-84

–1  Lafayette County Female, 65-74

–1  Polk County         Male, 55-64

–1  Scott County        Female, 55-64

 

Nebraska                    (  6) 

—  6  Blanchard tally of fatalities based on locality breakouts below.

—  5  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

–1  Adams County                 Male, 35-44

–2  Douglas County               Females, 65-74 and 85+

–1  Madison County              Male, 25-34

–1  Saline County                  Male, 75-84

—  1  Jefferson County, Daykin, July 13. Heatstroke; male found in field; temps reached 100°.[11]

 

Nevada                       (  5)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  5  Clark County                  Females, 25-34, 35-44, 55-64;            Males 45-54 and 55-64

 

New Jersey                 (  4)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Camden County             Female, 65-74

—  1  Essex County                 Female, 75-84

—  1  Hudson County              Male, 45-54

—  1  Monmouth Couth           Female, 75-84

 

New Mexico               (  2)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  2  Bernalillo County          Females, 1-4 and 85+

 

New York                   (16)  (Highlights in yellow denote source other than CDC WONDER.)

–16  State. Blanchard tally of heat-related fatalities from locality breakouts below.

—  8  State. CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

–11  New York City, July 9-13. (NYC Health Chief Medical Examiner cited as source.)[12]

—  1  Bronx County, Bronx Psychiatric Center, July 11. Male, 28, no AC, 90° day.[13]

—  2  New York County [Manhattan]             Females, 65-74 and 85+

—  1  Manhattan, July 10. Male, 38.[14]

—  2  Queens County              Females, 45-54 and 75-84

—  1  Broome County              Male, 45-54

—  1  Nassau County, New Hyde Park, July 11. Male, 35, after transfer from Queens hosp.[15]

—  1  Oneida County               Male, 35-44

—  1  Wayne County               Male, 45-54

—  1  Westchester County       Female, 55-64

 

North Carolina          (13)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Buncombe County         Female, 55-64

—  2  Cabarrus County            Female, 65-74             Male, 35-44

—  1  Davidson County           Female, 75-84

—  1  Duplin County               Male, 25-34

—  1  Durham County             Male, 75-84

—  1  Forsyth County              Male, 55-64

—  1  Hoke County                  Male, 35-44

—  1  Lee County                    Female, 75-84

—  1  Mecklenburg County     Male 35-44

—  1  Nash County                  Male, 45-54

—  1  Robeson County            Male, 55-64

—  1  Wake County                 Male, 35-44

—  5  State. Mirabelli and Richardson. “Heat-Related Fatalities in North Carolina.” Figure 1.

 

Ohio                            (  4)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Butler County                Female, 65-74

—  1  Cuyahoga County          Male, 25-34

—  1  Franklin County             Female, 25-34

—  1  Lucas County                 Female, 75-84

 

Oklahoma                  (10)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Cleveland County          Male, 55-64

—  1  Garfield County             Male, 55-64

—  1  Kingfisher County         Male, 55-64

—  2  Logan County                Female, 85+                Male, 65-74

—  1  Oklahoma County          Female, 45-54

—  1  Okmulgee County          Female, 65-74

—  1  Seminole County           Male, 35-44

—  1  Tillman County              Male, 55-64

—  1  Tulsa County                  Female, 65-74

–10  The Oklahoman (Pat Record), Oklahoma City. “City heat chalks up 2 deaths.” 7-28-1983.[16]

—  1  July 21. Male, 68, chopping wood, with temperature near 107°. NCDC. Storm Data.[17]

 

Oregon                       (19) 

–>19  Blanchard tally of heat-related deaths using 13 for Multnomah and CDC for other locales.

–>13  Multnomah Co., Aug 9-11 (48 hour period). Heat related and heat aggravated deaths.[18]

—    8  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.  

—  1  Columbia County           Male, 85+

—  1  Douglas County             Male, 25-34

—  1  Jackson County              Female, 45-54

—  1  Marion County               Male, 45-54

—  2  Multnomah County        Males, 65-74 and 85+                        

—  1  Polk County                   Male, 55-64

—  1  Umatilla County            Male, 65-74

 

Pennsylvania              (  9)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  6  Philadelphia County      Females, 45-54, 55-64, and 65-74; Males 25-34, 35-44, and 55-64

—  2  Schuylkill County          Females, 35-44 and 75-84

—  1  York County                  Female, 65-74

 

South Carolina          (13)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  2  Aiken County                 Female, 75-84             Male, 45-54

—  1  Anderson County           Male, 35-44

—  2  Charleston County         Females, 55-64 and 65-74

–1  June 18, heatstroke. NCDC Storm Data, 23-6, June 1981, p. 24.

—  1  Georgetown County       Male, 55-64

—  1  Hampton County            Male, 55-64

–1  June 19, heat. NCDC Storm Data, 23-6, June 1981, p. 24.

—  1  Laurens County              Male, 45-54

—  2  Orangeburg County       Female, 75-84             Male, 65-74

—  1  Richland County            Male, 45-54

–1  June 19. NCDC Storm Data, 23-6, June 1981, p. 24.

—  1  Spartanburg County       Male, 25-34

—  1  Sumter County               Female, 45-54

 

Tennessee                   (  6)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Hamilton County           Male, 55-64

—  1  Putnam County              Male, 35-44

—  3  Shelby County               Females, 35-44, 65-74 and 75-84

–1  Memphis, July 19. Female, 37; apt. without air conditioning; high temp. was 97°.[19]

—  1  Wilson County               Female, 65-74

 

Texas                          (23)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Anderson County           Male, 25-34

—  1  Clay County                   Male, 65-74

—  2  Dallas County                Female, 1-4                 Male, 75-84

—  1  Ector County                  Male, 10-14

—  1  Gray County                  Female, 55-64

—  2  Harris County                Female, 65-74             Male, 65-74

—  1  Jackson County              Male, 65-74

—  1  Jefferson County            Male, 45-54

—  1  Jones County                  Male, 85+

—  3  Liberty County               Males, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64

—  1  Lubbock County            Male, 35-44

—  1  Mitchell County             Male, 65-74

—  1  Nueces County               Female, 35-44

—  1  Rockwall County           Male, 85+

—  2  Tarrant County               Males, 45-54 and 75-84

—  1  Wharton County            Male, 55-64

—  1  Wilbarger County          Female, 75-84

 

Virginia                      (  4)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Alexandria city               Male, 75-84

—  1  Portsmouth city              Female, 75-84

—  1  Richmond city                Female, 75-84

—  1  Suffolk city                    Male, 65-74

 

Washington                (  2)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Thurston County            Female, less than 1-year-old

—  1  Walla Walla County      Male, 45-54

 

West Virginia            (  1)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Putnam County              Male, 15-19

 

Wisconsin                   (  4)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.  

—  1  Door County                  Male, 55-64

—  1  Milwaukee County        Male, 35-44

—  1  Sawyer County              Male, 45-54

—  1  Sheboygan County         Male, 75-84

 

Wyoming                    (  2)  CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

—  1  Converse County           Male, 5-9

—  1  Washakie County           Male, 55-64

 

Narrative Information

 

Aug 11: “Temperatures in Oregon reached 110 degrees setting off brush fires that forced the evacuation of at least 200 people….Dozens of homes have been destroyed in Oregon by brush fires and some 200 people had to leave Redmond, Ore. Two bigger fires burned about 5,000 acres in the Steens Mountain area 75 miles south of Bend in eastern Oregon. Temperatures peaked at 110 degrees Monday in Medford, Ore., the nation’s hot spot, and The Dalles, Portland and Salem had 107 degrees. Forecasters said temperatures across the Northwest were expected to climb into the 100s again today, pushing the heat wave into its sixth consecutive day….” (UPI. “110 in Oregon.” Ft. Madison, Ia. Democrat, 8-11-1981, p. 2.)

 

Sources

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Compressed Mortality File 1979-1998 (ICD-9 Code E900.0/Excessive heat – hyperthermia search for 1981). CDC WONDER On-line Database, compiled from Compressed Mortality File CMF 1968-1988, Series 20, No. 2A, 2000 and CMF 1989-1998, Series 20, No. 2E, 2003. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd9.html on May 20, 2017 7:41:13 PM

 

Lushine, James B. “Underreporting of Heat and Cold Related Deaths in Florida.” Miami, FL: National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, NOAA. 1-6-2009 modification. Accessed 11-1-2015 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/?n=fla_weather_casualties

 

Mirabelli, Maria C. and David B. Richardson. “Heat-Related Fatalities in North Carolina.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 95, no. 4, April 2005, pp. 635-637. Accessed 9-2-2015 at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1449233/

 

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “Heat Related Illnesses/Deaths (Hyperthermia).” 5-2-2008. Accessed 12-23-2015 at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/lsx/wcm/dhss_article_2008.pdf

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 6, June 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 42 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-50A5898E-3E70-41A7-BFC0-49EDA5279372.pdf

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 50 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.1673026488079813

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 8, August 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 29 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.7799228817998423

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 9, September 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 28 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.6438014864540751

 

New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/nyregion/deaths-of-3-mental-patients-linked-to-heat-wave.html?mcubz=2

 

The Oklahoman (Pat Record) Oklahoma City. “City heat chalks up 2 deaths.” 7-28-1983. Accessed 2-19-2017 at: http://newsok.com/article/2033651

 

The Sun, Lowell, MA. “General: Jr. high football player dies from heat exhaustion.” 7-18-1981, p. 7. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-18-1981-p-7/?tag

 

United Press International. “110 in Oregon.” Ft. Madison, Ia. Democrat, 8-11-1981, p. 2. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-madison-evening-democrat-aug-11-1981-p-2/?tag

 

United Press International. “East won’t cool off much before Tuesday.” Sunday Sun, Lowell, MA, 7-12-1981, p. A6. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-12-1981-p-6/?tag

 

United Press International. “Gets lost, dies.” Ft. Madison, IA Democrat, 8-11-1981. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-madison-evening-democrat-aug-11-1981-p-2/?tag

 

United Press International, “Heat wave claims 12^th victim.” The Telegraph, Nashua NH, 7-16-1981, p. 40. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/nashua-telegraph-jul-16-1981-p-40/?tag

 

United Press International. “Heatwave to end.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 6-26-1981, p. 5. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jun-26-1981-p-5/?tag

 

United Press International. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981, p. 3. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-castle-news-jul-15-1981-p-3/?tag

 

Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “2 illegals die in Tacna desert; Border Patrol rescues 12 more.” 7-9-1981, p. 1. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/yuma-sun-jul-09-1981-p-1/?tag

 

Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “Body of hitchhiker found in sand dunes.” 9-28-1981, p. 16. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/yuma-sun-sep-28-1981-p-15/?tag

 

 

[1] Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “2 illegals die in Tacna desert; Border Patrol rescues 12 more.” 7-9-1981, p. 1.

[2] Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “Body of hitchhiker found in sand dunes.” 9-28-1981, p. 16.

[3] United Press International. “Gets lost, dies.” Ft. Madison, IA Democrat, 8-11-1981. Identifies victim as Winifred Campbell, citing Deputy Coroner Marshall Franey, who “blamed the 110-degree heat for the woman’s death.” Highlighted in yellow to denote that this death is not included in CDC WONDER, and is thus an addition.

[4] Figure 3 is a chart showing heat deaths in one color and cold deaths in another on horizontal bar for each year. The fatality range shown on the left of chart is in increments of five, going up to thirty. The bars for each year are shown diagonally and show no numbers. This does not make them readily readable. One needs to measure with a ruler the bar showing the lowest combined deaths (1979), which appears to show one cold death and one heat. With the unit of measurement of one death then measured against the heat portion of the other bars, one can get an approximation of the heat deaths for each year. I say “approximate” in that by this method we counted 133 heat deaths over the 21-year period included in the graph, whereas the text of the article notes that there were 125. Repetitious measurement attempts gave us the same result. The article notes that the data came from death certificates collected by the Public Health Statistics Section, Office of Vital Statistics, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.

[5] The Sun, Lowell, MA. “General: Jr. high football player dies from heat exhaustion.” 7-18-1981, p. 7.

[6] United Press International. “Heatwave to end.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 6-26-1981, p. 5.

[7] One of these deaths may well refer to death of Hazel Showalter, 86, of Des Moines, who died at Mercy Hospital from a heat stroke on July 14. (UPI. “Heat wave claims 12^th victim,” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 7-16-1981, p. 40.)

[8] This may well be reference to July 14 death of 20-month old Floyd Holmes, Jr. in Des Moines. (UPI. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981.) UPI notes that baby had a body temperature of 109 degrees and attributed death to heat stroke.

[9] This may well be reference to July 14 death of Robert E. Bonstrom, 60, of Des Moines. (UPI. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981.) UPI notes there were no home fans or AC.

[10] This may well be reference to July 14 death of John Kemach, 88, of Des Moines. (UPI. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981.)

[11] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 1981, p. 22.

[12] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981.

[13] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Writes: “New York City’s Chief Medical Examiner said yesterday that the deaths of two mental patients at state hospitals and that of another at a city hospital during last week’s spell of 90-degree weather were heat-related. The three patients were in wards that were not air-conditioned and two of them were in wards that, for safety reasons, had only small window openings. In addition, the three were receiving anti-psychotic drugs that lowered their ability to stand the heat, doctors familiar with the cases said. The Medical Examinter, Dr. Elliot M. Gross, said all three patients had registered high body temperatures and that their cause of death was ‘heat related,’…” Identified Bronx patient as Michael Stieglitz.

[14] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Victim identified as Albert Solano.

[15] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Victim identified as Lloyd Callahan.

[16] “Last year [1982], 11 Oklahomans died in heat-related situations, compared to 10 in 1981…”

[17] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, p. 27.

[18] “Multnomah County Medical Examiner Dr. Larry Lewman said Tuesday [Aug 11] at least 13 people died of ‘heat-related or heat aggravated’ causes in the previous 48 hours….Tuesday’s high temperatures dropped below the 100-degree mark for the first time in several days in many Oregon cities. Portland’s 97-degree high Tuesday broke a string of four straight days of 100-degree weather.”

[19] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, p. 30.

—  14  AP. “Jet-Carrier Crash Kills 14,” Syracuse Herald-Journal (NY), May 27, 1981, p. 1.

—  14  Baugher.  US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (150139 to 156169). 10-29-2011.

—  14  US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”

 

Narrative Information

 

Baugher: “Grumman EA-6B ICAP I Prowler….159910 (VMAQ-2) crashed while landing on USS Nimitz while operating 70 mi from Jacksonville, FL May 26, 1981.  3 crewmen plus 11 deck personnel killed, 48 injured.  The aircraft reportedly applied power as it was landing and then suddenly drifted to the right, running into parked aircraft, causing ammunition to explode and starting numerous fires. 100 million dollars damage. The crash sparked a 5-month debate between Rep. Joseph Addabo (D-NY) and the Navy over whether drug use on board the carrier may have contributed to the crash.”  (Baugher.  US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (150139 to 156169). 10-29-2011.)

 

US Navy: “EA-6B Prowler crashed into flight deck of USS Nimitz (CVN-68) during a night landing, 14 sailors and marines killed, and 45 injured. Twelve aircraft lost or destroyed at a cost of $73 million. 26 May 1981.” (US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”)

 

Newspaper

 

May 27: “Jacksonville, Fla. (AP) – A radar-jamming jet crashed during a night landing on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, killing 14 people and injuring 45, Navy officials said today.

 

“The EA-6B Prowler, an electronic warfare plane that was temporarily grounded last year  because of its history of crashes, hit a number of other aircraft and touched off a fire on the carrier’s deck shortly before midnight yesterday, about 60 miles off the Jacksonville coast, according to Lt. Cmdr. Ken Pease, a spokesman at the Navy’s Norfolk, Va., Naval Station….

 

“…Lt. Cmdr. Dale Knee said 20 victims brought to the Naval Regional Medical Center here were in “very serious” and “very critical” condition.  Most suffered second- and third degree burns, and some had lacerations, internal injuries and fractures, Knee said.  The injured crewmen were treated first in the carrier’s medical department and a number of them were transferred by helicopter to a medical station at the Navy’s Jacksonville facility, Young added.

 

“The Prowler is a four-seater, but the Navy could not say immediately how many fliers were aboard when the jet crashed…..Navy officials…said initial reports indicated the one EA-6B and four F-14 aircraft were destroyed and three A-7 aircraft and one SH-3 helicopter sustained major damage….”  (Syracuse Herald-Journal (NY). “Jet-Carrier Crash Kills 14,” May 27, 1981, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Jet-Carrier Crash Kills 14,” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. May 27, 1981, p. 1.  Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=44853653

 

Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (150139 to 156169). Oct 29, 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries19.html

 

United States Department of the Navy. Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.  Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center. 2008.

 

 

 

–13  Burnett. Flash Floods in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2008, p. 255.

–13  USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.

–12  UPI. “Death Toll From Austin’s Weekend Flooding Reaches 12.” 5-29-1981, p. 2A.

—  0  National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 5, May 1981.

 

Narrative Information

 

USGS: “A deadly flash flood struck Austin, Texas, during the night of May 24. A short, intense rainfall produced as much as 10 in. of rain in 4 hours (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1981[1]). Streams rose rapidly, beginning about 10:00 p.m. and peaking about midnight. The floods receded just as quickly, so most streams were at preflood levels by 3:00 a.m. The flood resulted in 13 deaths and $40 million in damages (Paulson and others, 1991[2]). The speed at which the streams rose to flood levels contributed to the number of deaths as the floods probably caught many people unaware of the danger.” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.)

 

Burnett: “Of the thirteen people who drowned in the flood, six died in cars that were swept off low-water crossings, five were in cars swept off bridges, and two perished in a house when they failed to evacuate after being warned. The U.S. National Research Council’s report on the flood stated, ‘The high mortality rate was almost certainly due to th fact that nothing in recent experience had prepared people to anticipate and respect the violence of the rapidly rising waters.’[3]” (Burnett. Flash Floods in Texas. 2008, p. 255.)

 

Newspapers

 

May 25: “Austin, Texas (AP) — At least seven persons drowned and several others were missing in the wake of flash flooding here early today that left heavy property damage. Austin Police Sgt. Larry Walker said officers have confirmed that seven persons drowned when a line of heavy thunderstorms brought as much as 7 inches of rainfall. Police said at one time flood waters lapped at the bottom of signal lights at an intersection in the western part of downtown Austin, where businesses were heavily damaged. Walker said only one of the victims was identified immediately. He was Mark Villarreal [18], a truck driver trapped in his vehicle in a flooded intersection on Austin’s north side. Another victim drowned in Northwest Austin and two others drowned along Shoal Creek….

 

“The heavy rains sent Shoal Creek, normally a placid small stream that runs from north to south through the middle of Austin, out of its banks and into hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses. Flood water was reported to be 20-30 feet deep in some low areas before it began to subside before dawn.

 

“The rainfall total at Austin Municipal Airport was only 4.13 inches, but there were numerous unofficial reports of 6-7 inches of rain at various locations. Damage was widespread in an area along Lamar Boulevard in the west end of Austin’s business district….” (Associated Press. “Seven Austin residents die in flash flooding.” Del Rio News-Herald, TX, 5-25-1981, p. 1.)

 

May 26: “Austin (AP)….Austin Police Sgt. Ernest Shugart said authorities had recovered nine bodies, including a man whose pickup truck swirled into a drainage ditch [Mark Villarreal] whirlpool and a woman whose car was found 12 feet off the ground in trees. Shugart said four others were listed as missing, including a mother who was swept away with her baby as her husband watched….Shugart said the body of an unidentified woman was found early Monday morning in the back seat of her Cadillac, which was tangled in branches 12 feet off the ground….

 

“Other fatalities reported by police and sheriff’s deputies included:

 

— Jeffrey Grove, 27, and his mother Carolyn Grove. The bodies were found two blocks

apart on Shoal Creek Boulevard.

 

— Michael John Martin, 17, found near his car near Shoal Creek.

 

— Cao Chin Lu, 44, who was driving home from work when the water began to rise. Her

husband was following in another car and was able to stop in time. Her body was

found a quarter-mile from her car.

 

— Sally Dexter, 52, was found dead near the western side of Zilker Park.

 

— Phyllis Millner, 23, whose body was found at 11 a.m. Monday by police near Shoal

Creek….”

 

(Associated Press. “Austin cleans up after devastating flood.” Herald-Zeitung, New Braunfels, TX, 5-26-1981, p. 1.)

 

May 27: “Austin, Texas (UPI) — Firefighters dragged parts of Lake Austin Tuesday, searching for four people missing and presumed dead from a raging storm that killed 10 others and left a trail of destruction through the state capital. Search teams were dragging for Helen Durio, 49, of Austin and Bruce Engman, age unknown, both last seen near the lake. Police recovered Engman’s car Monday. Also missing were Arthur Raiford, 35, and Roy Presley, 31, both last seen near the lake. Austin fire chief Doug Palmer said a mother and her 8-month old infant earlier reported swept away in the flood had been located, alive and well, in Arkansas. Police said the woman’s husband made the report but admitted Monday that it was false….

 

“The 10^th confirmed victim was found in nearby Burnet County, which also suffered heavy rains.[4] Most were killed when their autos were swept into Shoal Creek….” (UPI. “Search for drowning victims continues.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A.)

 

May 29: “Austin, Texas (UPI) — The death toll from devastating weekend flooding now stands at 12 with the recovery of two bodies from Lake Austin. The search continued today for the remaining two people who were missing and presumed drowned following the seven inches of rain that turned normally placid streams into raging killers late Sunday night. Fire department squads Thursday found two bodies in Lake Austin. The dead were identified as Roy Presley, 31, of California and Bruce Engman, 36, of Austin….Engman’s body was found at 3:05 p.m. near Walsh’s boat landing at the mouth of Bee Creek. Presley’s body was found an hour later near the Bull Creek lodges.

 

“Engman was senior vice president of Kallestad Laboratories. The baby sitter he was driving home managed to cling to a tree and was saved Sunday night when their car was swept down Bee Creek. Pressley was riding in a car hit by a wall of water roaring down Bull Creek. Two other men in the car also died. Their bodies were recovered Monday….

 

“The remaining two people on the missing list were Arthur Raiford, 42, a state agriculture department inspector from Houston, and Helen Durio, 49, a research psychologist at the University of Texas….” (UPI. “Death Toll From Austin’s Weekend Flooding Reaches 12.” Brownsville Herald, TX, 5-29-1981, p. 2A.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Austin cleans up after devastating flood.” Herald-Zeitung, New Braunfels, TX, 5-26-1981, p. 1. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-braunfels-herald-zeitung-may-26-1981?tag

 

Associated Press. “Seven Austin residents die in flash flooding.” Del Rio News-Herald, TX, 5-25-1981, p. 1. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/del-rio-news-herald-may-25-1981-p-1/?tag

 

Burnett, Jonathan. Flash Floods in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2008.

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 5, May 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 21 pages. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html

 

Perry, Charles A. (USGS). Summary of Significant Floods in the United States and Puerto Rico, 1994 Through 1998 Water Years (Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5194). Reston, VA: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2005. Prepared in USGS, Lawrence, KS. Accessed 2-26-2016 at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5194/pdf/sir2005-5194.pdf

 

United Press International. “Death Toll From Austin’s Weekend Flooding Reaches 12.” Brownsville Herald, TX, 5-29-1981, p. 2A. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brownsville-herald-may-29-1981-p-2/?tag

 

United Press International. “Search for drowning victims continues.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-may-27-1981-p-14/?tag

 

United Press International. “Weekend flood nets 10 lives.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A. Accessed 5-24-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-may-27-1981-p-14/?tag

 

 

 

[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1981, Climatological data (by State): Ashville, North Carolina, National Climatic Data Center, (various months).

[2] Paulson, R.W., Chase, E.B., Roberts, R.S., and Moody, D.W., compilers, 1991, National water summary, 1988-89-Hydrologic events and floods and droughts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, 591 p.

[3] U.S. National Research Council. The Austin, Texas,, Flood of May 24-25, 1981.

[4] Identified as Morris Graves, 66, whose body “was found early Monday in his pickup truck about 100 yards off the road beside Bear Creek.” (UPI. “Weekend flood nets 10 lives.” Galveston Daily News, TX, 5-27-1981, p. 14-A.)