Hurricane Hazel

October 13th, 1954

In the mountains just a short distance from the town of Jeremie in my home country of Haiti the sky began to turn dark and the wind and seas grew wild. We had little warning of what was about to come. From our high vantage point one of my friends and I watched as the powerful storm they called Hazel blew the sea into the city and swept away all smaller structures. A prison hospital was completely demolished and the homes of Roman Catholic fathers and sisters were quickly washed into the sea. The customs house and bank were also damaged. When the storm passed we attempted to cross the mountains in search of help. When we were rescued we begged for them to send an S.O.S for help directly to President Magloire.

Sources

• Storm Hurls Most of Haiti City Into Sea. (1954, October 14). Chicago Daily Tribune

• The Associated Press.. (1954, October 14). Hurricane Smashes Haiti. New York Times