Editing Hurricane David

{{Short description|Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 1979}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} 
{{Infobox weather event
| image = David 1979-08-31 1500Z.png
| caption = David at peak intensity near landfall in [[Hispaniola]] on August 31
| formed = August 25, 1979
| extratropical = September 6, 1979
| dissipated = September 8, 1979
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 150
| pressure = 924
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1979
| fatalities = 2,078
| damage = 1540000000
| areas = [[Lesser Antilles]], [[Hispaniola]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Cuba]], [[The Bahamas]], [[East Coast of the United States]], [[Atlantic Canada]]
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1979 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}

'''Hurricane David''' was a devastating [[tropical cyclone]] which significantly damaged and killed many people in [[Dominica]] and the [[Dominican Republic]] in August 1979, and was the most intense hurricane to make [[landfall]] in the country in recorded history. A long-lived [[Cape Verde hurricane]], David was the fourth [[named storm]], second hurricane, and first [[major hurricane]] of the [[1979 Atlantic hurricane season]]. David formed on August&nbsp;25, in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean near [[Cape Verde]] off the coast of West Africa. Two days later, the storm reached hurricane strength, then underwent [[rapid intensification]], strengthening into a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane and reaching peak sustained winds of {{convert|175|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} on August&nbsp;28. By the time the system dissipated on September&nbsp;8, it had traversed the [[Leeward Islands]], [[Greater Antilles]], The [[Bahamas]], the [[East Coast of the United States]], and [[Atlantic Canada]].

David was the first hurricane to affect the Lesser Antilles since [[Hurricane Inez]] in [[1966 Atlantic hurricane season|1966]]. With winds of {{convert|175|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, David was one of only 2 storms of Category&nbsp;5 intensity to make landfall on the Dominican Republic in the 20th century, the other also being Inez, and the deadliest since the [[1930 San Zenón hurricane]], killing over 2,000&nbsp;people in its path. In addition, David was the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit the island of Dominica since the [[1834 Padre Ruíz hurricane]], which killed over 200 people.<ref name="1834 Dominica hurricane">{{cite book |last1=Neely |first1=Wayne |title=The Greatest and Deadliest Hurricanes of the Caribbean and the Americas: The Stories Behind the Great Storms of the North Atlantic |date=December 19, 2016 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=978-1-5320-1151-1 |page=375 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WYLIDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT375 |access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref>

== Meteorological history ==
{{Storm path|David 1979 path.png|colors=new}}
On August 25, the US [[National Hurricane Center]] reported that a tropical depression had developed within an area of disturbed weather, which was located about {{convert|1400|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on|order=flip}} to the southeast of the Cape Verde Islands.<ref>{{cite web|author=Hebert, Paul J|title=Tropical Depression Advisory: August 25, 1979 2200 UTC|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0088-jpg/1979/atlantic/david/public/pub08252200z.jpg|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> During that day the depression gradually developed further as it moved westwards, under the influence of the subtropical ridge of high pressure that was located to the north of the system before during the next day the NHC reported that the system had become a tropical storm and named it David. Becoming a hurricane on August 27, it moved west-northwestward before entering a period of [[rapid intensification]] which brought it to an intensity of {{convert|150|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} on August 28. Slight fluctuations in intensity occurred before the hurricane ravaged the tiny [[windward Islands|windward Island]] of [[Dominica]] on the following day.<ref name="mwr">{{cite journal|author=Hebert, Paul J |access-date=October 3, 2021 |title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1979 |journal=Monthly Weather Review |date=July 1, 1980 |volume=108 |issue=7 |pages=973–990 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1980)108<0973:AHSO>2.0.CO;2 |publisher=American Meteorological Society |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1979.pdf |bibcode=1980MWRv..108..973H |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104020243/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1979.pdf |archive-date=January 4, 2011  }}</ref> David continued west-northwest, and intensified into a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane in the northeast [[Caribbean Sea]], reaching peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|175|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and minimum central pressure of {{convert|924|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|lk=on}} on August&nbsp;30. An upper-level trough pulled David northward into [[Hispaniola]] as a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane on the August 31. The eye passed almost directly over [[Santo Domingo]], the capital of the [[Dominican Republic]]. David crossed over the island and emerged as a weak hurricane after drenching the islands.<ref name="mwr"/>

[[File:David 1979-09-03 2330Z.jpg|right|thumb|Hurricane David making landfall in Florida on September 3]]
After crossing the [[Windward Passage]], David struck eastern [[Cuba]] as a minimal hurricane on September&nbsp;1. It weakened to a tropical storm over land, but quickly re-strengthened as it again reached open waters. David turned to the northwest along the western periphery of the subtropical ridge, and re-intensified to a Category&nbsp;2 hurricane while over the [[Bahamas]], where it caused heavy damage. Despite initial forecasts of a projected landfall in [[Miami, Florida]], the hurricane turned to the north-northwest just before landfall to strike near [[West Palm Beach, Florida]], on September&nbsp;3. It paralleled the Florida coastline just inland until emerging into the western Atlantic Ocean at [[New Smyrna Beach, Florida]], later on September&nbsp;3. David continued to the north-northwest, and made its final landfall just south of [[Savannah, Georgia]], as a minimal hurricane with {{Convert|80|mph|km/h}} winds on September&nbsp;5. It turned to the northeast while weakening over land, and became extratropical on September&nbsp;6 over New York. As an [[extratropical storm]], David continued to the northeast over [[New England]] and the [[Canadian Maritimes]].<ref name="mwr"/> David intensified once more as it crossed the far north Atlantic, clipping northwestern [[Iceland]] before moving eastward well north of the [[Faroe Islands]] on September&nbsp;10.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}}

==Preparations==
In the days prior to hitting [[Dominica]], David was originally expected to hit [[Barbados]] and spare Dominica in the process. However, on August 29 a turn in the hours before moving through the area caused the {{convert|150|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} hurricane to make a direct hit on the southern part of Dominica.<ref name="dom1" /> Even as it became increasingly clear that David was headed for the island, residents did not appear to take the situation seriously. This can be partly attributed to the fact that local radio warnings were minimal and disaster preparedness schemes were essentially non-existent. Furthermore, Dominica had not experienced a major hurricane since 1930, thus leading to complacency among much of the population. This proved to have disastrous consequences for the island nation.<ref name="dom1" /><ref name="dom2">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedominican.net/articles/david.htm|title=Remembering Hurricane David|last=Fontaine|first=Thomson|date=August 29, 2003|publisher=TheDominican.Net|access-date=October 5, 2010}}</ref>

Some 400,000&nbsp;people evacuated in the United States in anticipation of David,<ref name="mwr"/> including 300,000&nbsp;people in southeastern Florida due to a predicted landfall between the [[Florida Keys]] and [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]]. Of those, 78,000&nbsp;fled to shelters, while others either stayed at a friend's house further inland or traveled northward. Making landfall during Labor Day weekend, David forced the cancellations of many activities in the greater Miami area.<ref name="palm">{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/storm/about/history/david.html|title=David: A hit – and a miss|author=Kleinberg, Eliot|date=May 27, 2004|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=October 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216141026/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/storm/about/history/david.html|archive-date=February 16, 2009}}</ref>

== Impact ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" align=right
|-
! Region !! Deaths !! Damage !! Ref
|-
| Dominica || 56 || ||<ref name="mwr"/>
|-
| Martinique || None || {{ntsp|50000000||$}} ||<ref name="mwr"/><ref name="em-dat">{{cite web|author=Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters|publisher=Université catholique de Louvain|access-date=November 30, 2012|url=http://www.emdat.be/|title=EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database}}</ref>
|-
| Guadeloupe || None || {{ntsp|100000000||$}} ||<ref name="em-dat"/>
|-
| Puerto Rico (U.S.) || {{nts|7}} || {{ntsp|70000000||$}} ||<ref name="mwr"/>
|-
| Dominican Republic || {{nts|2000}} || {{ntsp|1000000000||$}} ||<ref name="mwr"/>
|-
| United States || {{nts|15}} || {{ntsp|320000000||$}} ||<ref name="mwr"/>
|-class="sortbottom"
| Totals: || 2,078 || {{ntsp|1540000000||$}} || 
|}

David is believed to have been responsible for 2,078 deaths, making it one of the deadliest hurricanes of the modern era. It caused torrential damage across its path, most of which occurred in the [[Dominican Republic]] where the hurricane made landfall as a [[tropical cyclone scales|Category 5]] hurricane.

=== Lesser Antilles ===
[[File:David 1979-08-29 2100Z.png|thumb|right|Hurricane David after crossing the Lesser Antilles late on August 29]]
Aside from Dominica, other islands in the [[Lesser Antilles]] experienced minor to moderate damage. Just to the south of Dominica, David brought [[Martinique]] winds of up to {{convert|100|and|140|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} sustained gust in the northeast of the coast of the Caravelle. The capital, [[Fort-de-France]], reported wave heights of {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} and experienced strong tropical storm sustained winds at {{convert|56|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and gust at {{convert|78|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. David's strong winds caused severe crop damage, mostly to bananas, amounting to $50&nbsp;million in losses. Though no deaths were reported, the hurricane caused 20 to 30 injuries and left 500 homeless.<ref name="tcr3"/>

[[Guadeloupe]] experienced moderate to extensive damage on [[Basse-Terre Island]]. There, the banana crop was completely destroyed, and combined with other losses, crop damage amounted to $100&nbsp;million. David caused no deaths, a few injuries, and left several hundred homeless. Nearby, [[Marie-Galante]] and [[Les Saintes]] reported some extreme damage while [[Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe|Grande-Terre]] had some moderate damages.<ref name="tcr3"/>

The island of [[Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. Croix]] in the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]] experienced significant rainfall amounting to {{convert|10|–|12|in|mm|abbr=on}}, but fairly minor flooding.<ref name="tcr3"/>

==== Dominica ====
During the storm's onslaught, David dropped up to {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain, causing numerous landslides on the mountainous island.<ref name="tcr3">{{cite report|chapter-url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1979-prelim/david/prelim03.gif|title=Preliminary Report: Hurricane David &ndash; August 25-September 7, 1979|date=October 17, 1979|page=3|chapter=Meteorological Effects, Fatalities And Damages|last=Lawrence|first=Miles|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> Hours of hurricane-force winds severely eroded the coastlines and washed out coastal roads.<ref name="dom1">{{cite web|author=Honeychurch, Lennox|title=Scenes from Hurricane David on August 29, 1979|url=http://www.cakafete.com/dm/davidphotos.html|publisher=sakafete.com|access-date=October 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124033855/http://www.cakafete.com/dm/davidphotos.html|archive-date=January 24, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Damage was greatest in the southwest portion of the island, especially in the capital city, [[Roseau]], which resembled an air raid target after the storm's passage. Strong winds from Hurricane David destroyed or damaged 80&nbsp;percent of the homes (mostly wood) on the island,<ref name="dom2"/> leaving 75 percent of the population homeless,<ref name="tcr3"/> with many others temporarily homeless in the immediate aftermath.<ref name="dom1" /> In addition, the rainfall turned rivers into torrents, sweeping away everything in their path to the sea.<ref name="dom2"/> Power lines were completely ripped out, causing the water system to stop as well.

Most severely damaged was the agricultural industry. The worst loss in agriculture was from bananas and coconuts, of which about 75 percent of the crop was destroyed.<ref name="tcr3"/> Banana fields were completely destroyed, and in the southern portion of the island most coconut trees were blown down. Citrus trees fared better, due to the small yet sturdy nature of the trees.<ref name="dom1" /> In addition, David's winds uprooted many trees on the tops of mountains, leaving them bare and damaging the ecosystem by disrupting the water levels.<ref name="dom2"/>

In all, 56&nbsp;people died in Dominica and 180 were injured.<ref name="mwr"/><ref name="tcr3"/> Property and agricultural damage figures in Dominica are unknown.<ref name="mwr"/>

=== Puerto Rico ===
[[File:David 1979 Puerto Rico rainfall.png|thumb|right|Total rainfall map of David in Puerto Rico]]

Though it did not hit [[Puerto Rico]], Hurricane David passed less than {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of the island, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to the island. Portions of southwestern Puerto Rico experienced sustained winds of up to {{convert|85|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, while the rest of the island received tropical storm-force winds. While passing by the island, the hurricane caused strong seas<ref name="puerto">{{cite web|url=http://huracanado1.tripod.com/history2.html|title=Hurricanes and Tropical Storms in Puerto Rico from 1900 to 1979|author=García, José M.|publisher=The Puerto Rico Hurricane Center|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> and torrential rainfall, amounting to {{convert|19.9|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]] and up to {{convert|20|in|mm|abbr=on}} in the central mountainous region.<ref name="mwr"/>

Despite remaining offshore, most of the island felt David's effects. Agricultural damage was severe, and combined with property damage, the hurricane was responsible for $70&nbsp;million in losses.<ref name="mwr"/><ref name="tcr3"/> Following the storm, the FEMA declared the island a disaster area. In all, Hurricane David killed seven people in Puerto Rico, four of which resulted from electrocutions.<ref name="tcr3"/>

=== Dominican Republic ===
Upon making landfall in the [[Dominican Republic]], David turned unexpectedly to the northwest, causing {{convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} winds in [[Santo Domingo]] and Category&nbsp;5 winds elsewhere in the country. The storm caused torrential rainfall, resulting in extreme river flooding.<ref name="mwr"/> The flooding swept away entire villages and isolated communities during the storm's onslaught. A rail-mounted container crane collapsed in [[Rio Haina]] at the sea-land terminal. Many roads in the country were either damaged or destroyed from the heavy rainfall, especially in the towns of [[Jarabacoa]], [[San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic|San Cristobal]], and [[Baní]].<ref name="tcr3"/>

Nearly 70% of the country's crops were destroyed from the torrential flooding.<ref name="tcr4">{{cite report|chapter-url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1979-prelim/david/prelim03.gif|title=Preliminary Report: Hurricane David &ndash; August 25-September 7, 1979|date=October 17, 1979|page=4|chapter=Meteorological Effects, Fatalities And Damages|last=Lawrence|first=Miles|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> Extreme river flooding resulted in most of the country's 2,000&nbsp;fatalities.<ref name="mwr"/> One particularly deadly example of this was when a rampaging river in the mountainous village of Padre las Casas swept away a church and a school, killing several hundred people who were sheltering there.<ref name="tcr4"/> The flooding destroyed thousands of houses, leaving over 200,000&nbsp;homeless in the aftermath of the hurricane.<ref name="mwr"/> President [[Antonio Guzmán Fernández]] estimated the combination of agricultural, property, and industrial damage to amount to $1&nbsp;billion.<ref name="tcr4"/>

Neighboring [[Haiti]] experienced very little from David, due to the hurricane's weakened state upon moving through the country.<ref name="mwr"/>

=== Bahamas ===
While passing through the [[Bahamas]], David brought {{convert|70|–|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} winds to [[Andros Island]] as the eye crossed the archipelago. David, though still disorganized, produced heavy rainfall in the country peaking at {{convert|8|in|mm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="tcr4"/> Strong wind gusts uprooted trees, and overall damage was minimal.<ref name="bah">{{cite web|url=http://www.bahamasweather.org.bs/tropical/history/index.php|title=Bahamas Hurricane History|publisher=Bahamas Department of Meteorology|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060429011902/http://bahamasweather.org.bs/tropical/history/index.php|archive-date=April 29, 2006|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref>

=== United States ===
[[File:David 1979 rainfall.png|thumb|right|Total rainfall map of David in the [[United States East Coast]]]]
David produced widespread damage across the United States amounting to $320&nbsp;million. Prior to the hurricane's arrival, 400,000&nbsp;people evacuated from coastal areas. In total, David directly killed five in the United States, and was responsible for ten indirect deaths.<ref name="mwr"/>

==== Florida ====
Upon making landfall, David brought a [[storm surge]] of only {{convert|2|–|4|ft|m|abbr=on}}, due to its lack of strengthening and the [[obtuse angle]] at which it hit.<ref name="mwr"/> In addition, David caused strong surf and moderate rainfall, amounting to a maximum of {{convert|8.92|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Vero Beach, Florida|Vero Beach]].<ref name="tcr4"/> Though it made landfall as a Category&nbsp;2 storm, the strongest winds were localized, and the highest reported wind occurred in [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]], with {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} sustained and {{convert|95|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} gusts.<ref name="tcr8">{{cite report|chapter-url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1979-prelim/david/prelim08.gif|title=Preliminary Report: Hurricane David &ndash; August 25-September 7, 1979|date=October 17, 1979|page=8|chapter=Meteorological Data (U.S.) Hurricane David, Aug. 25&ndash;Sept. 7, 1979|last=Lawrence|first=Miles|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> The hurricane spawned over 10&nbsp;tornadoes while passing over the state, though none caused deaths or injuries.<ref name="fltor">{{cite report|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/16thwaf.html|author=Hagemeyer, Barlett C. |title=1.2 Significant Tornado Events Associated With Tropical and Hybrid Cyclones in Florida|publisher=National Weather Service Melbourne, Florida|access-date=October 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016213219/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/16thwaf.html|archive-date=October 16, 2008}}</ref> Total damages in Florida amounted to $95&nbsp;million.<ref name="palm"/> Two journalists from the [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard County]]-based newspaper ''[[Florida Today|TODAY]]'', reporter Dick Baumbach and photographer Scott Maclay, experienced extremely high winds as they followed the hurricane's progress from South Florida to [[Cocoa, Florida|Cocoa]].<ref name="Baumbach">{{cite news|title=Journey Through Nature's Fury|last=Baumbach|first=Dick|location=Cocoa, Florida|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86402308/florida-today/|newspaper=Florida Today|date=September 4, 1979|page=1a|access-date=October 3, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref>

Because the hurricane remained near the coastline, David failed to cause extreme damage in Florida. At the height of the storm, up to 50,000&nbsp;people in [[Broward County, Florida|Broward]] and [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]] (then Dade County) lost electricity due to downed and damaged power lines. Storm surge and abnormally high tides caused significant erosion damage to [[Florida State Road A1A|State Road A1A]] in the vicinity of [[Sunrise Boulevard (Broward County)|Sunrise Boulevard]] in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86464054/fort-lauderdale-news/|title=David In Broward: 4 Persons Die, But Property Damage Is Minimal|date=September 4, 1979|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|author=Casey, Dave|page=5A|access-date=October 4, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> Four fatalities occurred in Broward County, two directly and two indirectly.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86463731/fort-lauderdale-news/|title=4 Die In Broward; Property Damage Is Minimal|date=September 4, 1979|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|author=Casey, Dave|page=1A|access-date=October 4, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> In [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]], sustained winds peaked at {{convert|58|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} at the [[Palm Beach International Airport]] and wind gusts reached up to {{convert|92|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in [[Jupiter, Florida|Jupiter]]. Winds shattered windows in stores near the coast and caused some property damage, including blowing the frame off the Palm Beach [[Jai alai]] fronton in [[Mangonia Park, Florida|Mangonia Park]] and downing the 186-ft (57-m) [[WJNO]] AM radio tower in [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] into the [[Intracoastal Waterway]].<ref name="palm"/> Around 70,000&nbsp;people in or near West Palm Beach lost electricity after falling trees downed around one-third of [[Florida Power & Light]]'s main feeder lines.<ref name="keefer2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86462760/the-palm-beach-post/|title=PB County's Damage Put At $1 Million|author=Keefer, Charles|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|date=September 4, 1979|page=A19|access-date=October 4, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> Abnormally high tides damaged docks and piers,<ref name="palm"/> while also flooding portions of South Ocean Boulevard between [[Lake Worth Beach, Florida|Lake Worth]] and [[Lantana, Florida|Lantana]]. In [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]], several boats moored in the [[Lake Worth Lagoon]] capsized.<ref name="keefer2"/> Damage in the county totaled approximately $30&nbsp;million, most of it incurred to crops.<ref name="palm"/>

Farther north, the storm deroofed a few structures and flooded some buildings in the [[Treasure Coast]], including the [[Stuart, Florida|Stuart]] City Hall. A 450-ft (140-m) crane was snapped in two at the [[St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant]].<ref name="palm"/> In [[Vero Beach, Florida|Vero Beach]], a tornado caused major damage to a restaurant and deroofed a condominium and apartment building.<ref name="stormdata"/>{{rp|3}} Some [[clapboard]]-style homes in the county suffered major damage, especially in [[Gifford, Florida|Gifford]] and other low income communities. Heavy rains inundated portions of [[Florida State Road 60|State Road 60]] with up to {{convert|4|ft|m|abbr=on}} of water between [[Interstate 95]] and [[Yeehaw Junction, Florida|Yeehaw Junction]] because the [[St. Johns River]] marsh had difficulty draining.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86554508/florida-today/|title=Area Clears Away $30 Million Damage|page=16a|date=September 5, 1979|newspaper=Florida Today|author=Miller, Gregory|access-date=October 5, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|location=Cocoa, Florida}} {{free access}}</ref> Two tornadoes in [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard County]] caused damage. The first twister severely impacted or destroyed about 50&nbsp;mobile homes and a condominium complex in [[Melbourne Beach, Florida|Melbourne Beach]] and a shopping center in [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]] after crossing the [[Indian River (Florida)|Indian River]]. The shopping center alone sustained about $1.5&nbsp;million in damage. Another tornado was spawned in Cocoa, damaging a few roofs.<ref name="stormdata">{{cite journal |date=September 1979 |title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena |journal=Storm Data |volume=21 |issue=9|issn=0039-1972 |url=http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-F8D227B9-9875-4C64-8F32-88A0992FE8B6.pdf |access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052729/http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-F8D227B9-9875-4C64-8F32-88A0992FE8B6.pdf |archive-date=May 29, 2014}}</ref>{{rp|3}}

==== Georgia ====
Hurricane David made landfall in Georgia as a quickly weakening minimal hurricane, bringing a {{convert|3|–|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} storm surge and heavy surf. Its inner core remained away from major cities, though [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]] recorded sustained winds of {{convert|58|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and wind gusts of {{convert|68|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="mwr"/> Although no major damage occurred in Savannah,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/savannah.htm|title=Savannah, Georgia's history with tropical systems|publisher=Hurricane City.com|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> high winds downed numerous power lines, leaving approximately 70,000&nbsp;electrical customers without power,<ref name="stormdata10"/>{{rp|14}} some for up to two weeks after the storm.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://weather.wtoc.com/tropical/history.htm|title=Savannah Hurricane History|newspaper=WTOC TV|author=Prokop, Patrick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060226083721/http://weather.wtoc.com/tropical/history.htm|archive-date=February 26, 2006}}</ref> Many trees were downed along downtown streets.<ref name="morrison"/> [[Tybee Island, Georgia|Tybee Island]] and its vicinity may have experienced hurricane-force wind gusts.<ref name="stormdata10"/>{{rp|14}} Several homes on the island were partially deroofed.<ref name="morrison">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86584826/the-atlanta-constitution/|title=Busbee Tours Coastal Area, Pledges State Disaster Aid|author=Morrison, David|date=September 6, 1979|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|page=10-A|access-date=October 6, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref>  In [[Darien, Georgia|Darien]], the storm severely damaged a nursing home, flooded some streets, and downed tree limbs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86584945/the-atlanta-constitution/|author=Goolrick, Chester|author2=Merriner, Jim|title=Hurricane|page=8-A|date=September 5, 1979|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|access-date=October 6, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> Offshore, strong seas disrupted a portion of the coastal reef by moving a sunken ship {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.artificialreefs.org/Articles/SavannahNOW%20%20SavannahMorningNews.htm|date=June 14, 1998|title=DNR hopes deep-water reef draws fish|author=Burke, John|newspaper=The Savannah Morning News|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> Tides produced by the storm also inundated the [[Jekyll Island]] Causeway and the [[F.J. Torras Causeway]], which links [[Brunswick, Georgia|Brunswick]] to [[St. Simons, Georgia|St. Simons Island]]. Overall, David was responsible for approximately $5&nbsp;million in damage in Georgia, much of it in [[Chatham County, Georgia|Chatham County]], while two people drowned at [[Jekyll Island]] due to heavy surf.<ref name="stormdata10">{{cite journal |date=October 1979 |title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena |journal=Storm Data |volume=21 |issue=10|issn=0039-1972 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-A459AC7B-F85F-4665-BB54-E5C43CD66B1E.pdf|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006050605/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-A459AC7B-F85F-4665-BB54-E5C43CD66B1E.pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref>{{rp|14}}

==== Rest of the East Coast ====
Upon entering South Carolina, David retained winds of up to hurricane force, though the highest recorded was {{convert|43|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} sustained in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] and a {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} wind gust in [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|Hilton Head Island]].<ref name="mwr"/> The storm spawned at least five tornadoes in the state, four of which caused damaged. The first such twister, spawned in [[Georgetown, South Carolina|Georgetown]], demolished five beachfront homes and severely damaged eight other homes and a condominium complex. A tornado touched down in [[North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina|North Myrtle Beach]] destroyed a few roofs and caused damage to utilities. Minutes later, a second tornado in the city demolished some fishing piers, substantial damaged several dwellings and a motels, and ignited a few fires, which destroyed a condominium complex. A third tornado in North Myrtle Beach caused some degree of roof damage to about 80&nbsp;percent of oceanfront homes in the Windy Hill Beach section of the city. The twister also demolished three piers and a motel. David caused approximately $10&nbsp;million in damage in South Carolina.<ref name="stormdata"/>{{rp|10}}

Similar winds occurred in North Carolina, and lesser readings were recorded throughout the northeastern United States, excluding a {{convert|174|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} wind gust on [[Mount Washington (New Hampshire)|Mount Washington]] in [[New Hampshire]]. In addition, David dropped heavy rainfall along its path, peaking at {{convert|10.73|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Cape Hatteras]], North Carolina, with widespread reports of over {{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on}}. Storm surge was moderate, peaking at {{convert|8.8|ft|m|abbr=on}} in Charleston and up to {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} along much of the [[East Coast of the United States|eastern United States coastline]].<ref name="mwr"/>

Overall, damage was light in most areas, though it was very widespread. High winds and rain downed power lines in the New York City area, leaving 2.5&nbsp;million people without electricity during the storm's passage. Had David not taken an unexpected very late turn, it would have likely toppled the Citicorp Building (53rd and Lexington), which was in the process of being fortified because the building could not withstand hurricane-level winds; a major tragedy affecting a square mile of Midtown Manhattan (including Grand Central Station, the UN, and Rockefeller Center), was avoided.<ref name="mwr"/> David also caused minor to moderate [[Coastal erosion|beach erosion]], as well as widespread crop damage from the flooding.<ref name="tcr5">{{cite report|chapter-url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1979-prelim/david/prelim05.gif|title=Preliminary Report: Hurricane David &ndash; August 25-September 7, 1979|date=October 17, 1979|page=5|chapter=Meteorological Effects, Fatalities And Damages|last=Lawrence|first=Miles|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> In addition, the hurricane spawned numerous [[tornado]]es while moving through the Mid-Atlantic and New England, with associated prominent wind damage occurring even in inland communities.<ref>{{cite web|author=Cleeton, Christa|date=November 9, 2012|url=https://blogs.princeton.edu/mudd/2012/11/before-sandy-there-was-gloria-and-david-hurricane-damage-on-campus/|title=Before Sandy, there was Gloria and David: Hurricane damage on campus.|publisher=Princeton University Archives & Public Policy Papers Collection|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> In [[Virginia]] eight tornadoes formed across the southeastern portion of the state, of which six were F2's or greater on the [[Fujita scale]], including two rated F3 in [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]] and [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]]. The tornadoes caused 1&nbsp;death, 19&nbsp;injuries, damaged 270&nbsp;homes, and destroyed 3&nbsp;homes, amounting to $6&nbsp;million in damage. In [[Maryland]], David's outer bands formed seven tornadoes,<ref name="vator">{{cite web|url=http://www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/history/tornado.cfm|title=Virginia Tornadoes|date=February 21, 2002|author=Watson, Barbara|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050904212240/http://www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/history/tornado.cfm|archive-date=September 4, 2005}}</ref> including an [[Fujita scale|F2]] in [[Kingsville, Maryland|Kingsville]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/custom/15093221|title=Summary|publisher=TornadoHistoryProject.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225601/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/custom/15093221|archive-date=October 28, 2018}}</ref> In [[New Castle County, Delaware]], an F2 tornado damaged numerous homes and injured five.<ref name="tor">{{cite web|url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm|title=The Most Important Tornadoes by State|date=2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035740/http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm|publisher=TornadoHistoryProject.com|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref>

==Aftermath==

===Dominica===
Immediately after the storm, lack of power prevented communications and the outside world had little knowledge of the extent of the damage in Dominica. A citizen named Fred White ended that by using a battery-operated ham radio to contact the world.<ref name="dom1"/>

In response to the severe agricultural damage, the government initiated a food ration. By two months after the storm, assistance pledges amounted to over $37&nbsp;million from various groups around the world. Similar to the aftermath of other natural disasters, the distribution of the aid raised concerns and accusations over the amount of food and material, or lack thereof, for the affected citizens.<ref name="dom1"/> The Hurricane destroyed some important landmarks, including a significant part of the ruins of the [[Fort Young (Dominica)|Fort Young]] which had stood since the 1770s.<ref name="Gravette2000">{{cite book|last=Gravette|first=Andrew Gerald|title=Architectural heritage of the Caribbean: an A-Z of historic buildings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=US59JbQ6-OYC&pg=PA168|access-date=June 22, 2011|year=2000|publisher=Signal Books|isbn=978-1-902669-09-0|page=168}}</ref>

[[Looting]] was practiced in supermarkets, seaports, and homes; what was not destroyed by the hurricanes was stolen in the weeks after the storm.<ref name="dom2"/>

The [[destroyer]] {{HMS|Fife|D20}} was on its way back to the United Kingdom when the hurricane struck, and was turned back to provide emergency aid to the island. Sailing through mountainous seas, ''Fife'' docked in the main harbor at Roseau without assistance, and was the only outside help for several days. The crew provided work details and medical parties to offer assistance to the island and concentrated on the hospital buildings, the airstrip, and restoring power and water. The ship's helicopter (called ''Humphrey'') took medical aid into the hills to assist people who were cut off from getting to other help by fallen trees. The ship also used its radio systems to broadcast news and music to the island to inform the population of what was being done and how to get assistance. This was the first time a [[Royal Navy]] ship had provided a public broadcast news service.{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}}

===Dominican Republic===
Immediately following the storm, more than 200,000&nbsp;people left homeless sought refuge at churches and public buildings. [[Hurricane Frederic|Tropical Storm Frederic]] struck the Dominican Republic only about a week after David, exacerbating recovery efforts. In September&nbsp;1979, the Civil Defense Secretariat of the Dominican Republic provided assistance to approximately 1.8&nbsp;million people via international organizations such as [[Care International]] (CARE), the [[Catholic Relief Services]] (CRS), the [[Church World Service]] (CWS), and the [[Peace Corps]]. Prior to David, these organizations had staged over {{convert|7,500,000|kg|lbs|order=flip|abbr=on}} of [[Food for Peace|P.L. 480 food commodities]], which suffered little damage from the storm. CARE and CRS distributed an additional {{convert|9,073|MT|lbs|order=flip|abbr=on}} of P.L. 480 food commodities between October 1979 and September 1980. The Civil Defense Secretariat also ordered nearly all privately owned construction equipment be used to clear blocked roadways. Approximately 500,000 sheets galvanized roofing, manufactured locally, was purchased by the government of the Dominican Republic. Within two months, the National Housing Institute and private firms repaired over 12,000&nbsp;homes. The Secretariat of Agriculture provided assistance with replanting 60&ndash;90-day crops. Businesses, non-governmental organizations, and volunteers within the Dominican Republic also contributed significantly, providing construction materials and bedding, clothing, and shoes. Thousands of family-sized food parcels were packed by volunteered and shipped to devastated areas.<ref name="usaid"/>
[[File:Hurricane_David_Satellite_Loop.gif|thumb|A Visible Satellite Loop of Hurricane David on August 31, 1979. Making Landfall in the Dominican Republic as a Category 5.]]
The [[United Nations]] and [[intergovernmental organization]]s, including the [[European Economic Community]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization]], [[Inter-American Development Bank]], [[Organization of American States]], [[Pan American Health Organization]], [[United Nations Development Programme]], [[United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]], [[UNICEF|United Nations Children's Fund]], [[World Food Programme]], and [[World Bank]], provided more than $139.2&nbsp;million in material and monetary donations.<ref name="usaid"/>

Cash donations and relief supplies were contributed from [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross agencies throughout the world]], including from [[Australian Red Cross|Australia]], the Bahamas, [[Belgian Red Cross|Belgium]], [[Canadian Red Cross|Canada]], Chile, [[Colombian Red Cross|Colombia]], Denmark, [[Finnish Red Cross|Finland]], [[German Red Cross|Germany]], [[Honduran Red Cross|Honduras]], Hungary, [[Italian Red Cross|Italy]], [[Japanese Red Cross Society|Japan]], [[Red Cross of Monaco|Monaco]], [[New Zealand Red Cross|New Zealand]], [[Norwegian Red Cross|Norway]], [[Romanian Red Cross|Romania]], Spain, [[Swedish Red Cross|Sweden]], [[Swiss Red Cross|Switzerland]], [[Thai Red Cross Society|Thailand]], the [[British Red Cross|United Kingdom]], the [[American Red Cross|United States]], and Yugoslavia. Additionally France's [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] and Action d'urgence internationale and the United Kingdom's [[Oxfam]] also provided money and supplies. Overall, contributions from these [[non-governmental organization]]s totaled nearly $203.13&nbsp;million.<ref name="usaid"/>

The [[United States Congress]] and [[President of the United States|president]] [[Jimmy Carter]] approved legislation appropriating $15&nbsp;million in aid to the Dominican Republic. By 1980, the United States government contributed funds and materials with a monetary value totaling just over $10.1&nbsp;million. Aside from CARE, CRS, and CWS, non-governmental organizations based in the United States with significant donations of funds and supplies were the [[American Institute for Free Labor Development]], [[Assemblies of God]], [[Baptist World Alliance]], Brother's Brother Foundation, [[Catholic Medical Mission Board]], [[Compassion International]], [[Direct Relief]], [[Lutheran World Relief]], [[MAP International]], Michigan Partners of the Americas, Missionary Enterprises, [[Redemptorists]] (Baltimore Province), Roman Catholic Episcopate of Puerto Rico, [[Salesians of Don Bosco|Salesians of St. John Bosco]], [[The Salvation Army|Salvation Army]], [[Save the Children USA]], Seventh-day Adventist World Service, [[Sister Cities International]], [[Southern Baptist Convention]], [[World Relief]], and [[World Vision International]]. These organizations combined gave over $2.5&nbsp;million in aid. Other national governments contributing aid included Argentina, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, France, Germany, Haiti, Japan, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.<ref name="usaid">{{cite report|url=https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAH134.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005220249/https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAH134.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2021|series=Disaster Case Report|title=Dominican Republic &ndash; Hurricane David & Frederic|work=[[United States Agency for International Development]]; [[Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance]]|publisher=[[United States Agency for International Development]]|access-date=October 5, 2021|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>

===United States===
Despite the casualties and damages attributed to David, the storm's effects were not as bad as in other countries. In particular, South Florida escaped relatively lightly. Because of this, then NHC Director [[Neil Frank]] was accused of overly stirring up panic before the arrival of David. Two local psychiatrists even claimed that the experience would make residents more complacent towards future storms. However, the NHC defended their methods, with Frank stating: "If we hadn't [raised public alarm] and our predictions had been more accurate, the consequences would have been disastrous."<ref name="palm"/>
One reporter who covered Hurricane David was Dick Baumbach, a journalist with TODAY newspaper, now known as ''[[Florida Today]]''. He along with news photographer Scott Maclay followed the path of the hurricane from Miami to Central Florida. In Cocoa Beach, Baumbach decided to ride out the hurricane in his home with two other journalists. While it was a difficult and trying experience, all three reporters survived and ended up winning numerous awards.<ref name="Baumbach"/> The hurricane also interrupted the filming of the movie ''[[Caddyshack]]'' that was taking place at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Fort Lauderdale.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wptv.com/entertainment/movies/caddyshack-at-40-how-south-florida-set-tee-time-for-greatest-golf-satire-in-cinematic-history|title='Caddyshack' at 40: How South Florida set tee time for greatest golf satire in cinematic history|author=Burke, Peter|date=July 25, 2020|newspaper=WPTV-TV|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref>

===Retirement===
{{See also|List of retired Atlantic hurricane names}}
The name ''David'' was retired following this storm because of its devastation and high death toll; it will never be used again to name a tropical system in the North Atlantic.<ref name="names">{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref> It was replaced with ''Danny'' for the [[1985 Atlantic hurricane season|1985 season]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/HOPs-1985.PDF|page=3{{hyphen}}7|publisher=[[NOAA]] Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research|location=Washington, D.C.|title=National Hurricane Operations Plan|date=May 1985|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
*[[List of storms named David|Other storms of the same name]]
*[[List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes]]
*[[List of retired Atlantic hurricane names]]
*[[Hurricane Matthew]] (2016) – Similar storm which took a similar track near the Southeastern United States
*[[Hurricane Irma]] (2017) – Another category 5 that affected the Caribbean
*[[Hurricane Maria]] (2017) – Another Category 5, regarded as the worst natural disaster on record to affect Dominica

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/noaa_documents/video/NOAA_16mm/QC9452D38H871979.mov Radar loop of Hurricane David]
* [http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/noaa_documents/video/NOAA_16mm/QC9452F74H8711979.mov Satellite loop of David, Elena, Frederic, and Gloria]
*[http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/david1979.html Hurricane David Rainfall – HPC]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060426220145/http://www.cakafete.com/dm/davidphotos.html Hurricane David damage] (archived April 26, 2006)
*[http://www.thedominican.net/articles/david.htm Remembering Hurricane David]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060210150750/http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/storm79.html CHC Storms 1979] (archived February 10, 2006)
*[http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/storm/about/history/david.html PalmBeachPost.com (Hurricane David)]

{{Retired Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{1979 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:1979 Atlantic hurricane season|David]]
[[Category:Cape Verde hurricanes|David]]
[[Category:Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes|David]]
[[Category:Retired Atlantic hurricanes|David]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in the Leeward Islands]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Dominica]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Leeward Islands|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Martinique|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Dominica|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Guadeloupe|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Îles des Saintes|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the United States Virgin Islands|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Puerto Rico|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Dominican Republic|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Haiti|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Bahamas|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Florida|David]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Georgia (U.S. state)|David]]
[[Category:1979 in Dominica]]
[[Category:1979 in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:1979 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:1979 in the Caribbean]]