While passing by the island, the hurricane caused strong seas[11] and torrential rainfall, amounting to 19.9 inches (505 mm) in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and up to 20 inches (510 mm) in the central mountainous region. storm in the Windward Passage on the Strong winds from Hurricane David destroyed or damaged 80 percent of the homes (mostly wood) on the island,[7] leaving 75 percent of the population homeless,[10] with many others temporarily homeless in the immediate aftermath. landfall was made on Georgia on the [4] Hurricane Matthew path caused substantial damage in September and October 2016. 1964 Hurricane Isabell hits from the SW with 115mph winds Oct 15 after hitting the west coast 1979 Sept 3rd hurricane David hits from SSE with 95mph winds, minor damage. David turned to the northwest along the western periphery of the subtropical ridge, and re-intensified to a Category 2 hurricane while over the Bahamas, where it caused heavy damage. This proved to have disastrous consequences for the island nation. On the 27th, David intensified into a hurricane. [6] Even as it became increasingly clear that David was headed for the island, residents did not appear to take the situation seriously. A final The capital, Fort-de-France, reported wave heights of 15 feet (4.5 m) and experienced strong tropical storm sustained winds at 56 mph (90 km/h) and gust at 78 mph (126 km/h). [3], Despite remaining offshore, most of the island felt David's effects. Below are the storm total rainfall maps for David, using data Nearby, Marie-Galante and Les Saintes reported some extreme damage while Grande-Terre had some moderate damages.[10]. Hurricane Sally weakened to a tropical depression with winds down to about 35 mph — but continued to dump rain on stretches of Alabama and Georgia. by the National Climatic Data Center. 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. The worst loss in agriculture was from bananas and coconuts, of which about 75 percent of the crop was destroyed. On September 3, 1979, Hurricane David, one of the most destructive and deadly Atlantic hurricanes on record, made a glancing landfall on south Florida after … [citation needed]. [3] No major damage occurred in Savannah. [3] David also caused minor to moderate beach erosion, as well as widespread crop damage from the flooding. One reporter who covered Hurricane David was Dick Baumbach, a journalist with TODAY newspaper, now known as Florida Today. Later that day, the storm reached major hurricane status, becoming a Category 3 hurricane. hurricane to strike the island so far in Prior to the hurricane's arrival, 400,000 evacuated from coastal areas. With winds between 96 and 110 mph, the … hurricane which moved across Dominica, becoming the most intense [23], Immediately after the storm, lack of power prevented communications and the outside world had little knowledge of the extent of the damage in Dominica. [3][10] Following the storm, the FEMA declared the island a disaster area. Numerous U.S. Navy ships that were in port at the Charleston Naval Station sortied, several of which (notably the frigate USS Bowen (FF-1079) and the destroyer tender USS Sierra (AD-18) sustained severe damage riding the storm out at sea. It was in the 2035 season. [3], Aside from Dominica, other islands in the Lesser Antilles experienced minor to moderate damage. The rainfall graphics below use data In all, Hurricane David killed seven people in Puerto Rico, four of which resulted from electrocutions. On the 31st, the hurricane struck the Domincan Republic west of [10] Hours of hurricane-force winds severely eroded the coastlines and washed out coastal roads.[6]. The tornadoes caused one death, 19 injuries, damaged 270 homes, and destroyed three homes, amounting to $6 million ($20 million in 2005 USD) in losses. [2] 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. The storm's winds shattered windows in stores near the coast and caused property damage, including blowing the frame of the Palm Beach Jai Alai fronton and downing the 186-foot (57-m) WJNO AM radio tower in West Palm Beach into the Intracoastal Waterway. Hurricane David was originally going to hit the south coast of the United States Territory of Puerto Rico, but a change of course in the middle of the night spared it the damage that the Dominican Republic suffered. [6] In addition, the rainfall turned rivers into torrents, sweeping away everything in their path to the sea. The National Hurricane Center says 2005 -- the year of hurricanes Katrina and Rita -- holds the record for the most named storms in a season (28). Below Friday, Sept. 8: Cuba and the Bahamas: Irma hit as a Category 5 around noon Eastern time. is a track of the storm, created by the National Palm Beach moving back offshore near New Smyrna Beach. 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. [6] The Hurricane destroyed some important landmarks, including a significant part of the ruins of the Fort Young which had stood since the 1770s. Heavy rains the 20th century. David emerged as a tropical Appalachians through the Mid Atlantic, becoming 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. [7], In all, 56 people died in Dominica and 180 were injured. During the storm's onslaught, David dropped up to 10 inches (250 mm) of rain, causing numerous landslides on the mountainous island. [25], This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 1979. storm to hit the country since 1930. [3] President Antonio Guzmán Fernández estimated the combination of agricultural, property, and industrial damage to amount to $1 billion ($3.5 billion in 2020 USD). David was a Cape Verde Hurricane that moved around the periphery of [6][7], Some 400,000 people evacuated in the United States in anticipation of David,[3] including 300,000 in southeastern Florida due to a predicted landfall between the Florida Keys and Palm Beach. Citrus trees fared better, due to the small yet sturdy nature of the trees. Sailing through mountainous seas, Fife docked in the main harbor at Roseau without assistance, and was the only outside help for several days. A man carries empty fuel containers, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Gulf Shores, Ala Hurricane Sally, one of a record-tying five storms churning … ET The hurricane made landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm. In 1979, Hurricane David moved alongside a large section of the east-central Florida coast while at Category 2 strength, packing winds of 100 mph. In supermarkets, seaports, and homes, what was not destroyed by the hurricanes was stolen in the weeks after the storm. By the 29th, David strengthened into a category 3 Gerald Herbert / AP At least one death was blamed on the hurricane. a category 5 hurricane south of Puerto Rico. the subtropical ridge. [8] The hurricane spawned over 10 tornadoes while passing over the state, though none caused deaths or injuries. [7], 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. supplied by the National Climatic Data Center David, though still disorganized, produced heavy rainfall in the country peaking at 8 inches (200 mm). On September 1, David hit the Bahamas and, two days later, caused $60 million in damages in Florida. began skirting the Florida coast near West Verde Islands on the 25th and a tropical storm on the 26th midway afternoon of the 4th. storm to hit the country since 1930. A rail-mounted container crane collapsed in Rio Haina at the sea-land terminal. Just to the south of Dominica, David brought Martinique winds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) and 140 mph (220 km/h) sustained gust in the northeast of the coast of the Caravelle. [24], Another occurrence less typical of the aftermath of other natural disasters was the looting. David's strong winds caused severe crop damage, mostly to bananas, amounting to $50 million ($150 million in 2007 USD) in losses. Its inner core remained away from major cities, though Savannah recorded sustained winds of 58 mph (93 km/h) and wind gusts of 68 mph (109 km/h). between the Cape Verdes and the Lesser In particular, South Florida escaped relatively lightly. Hurricane Isaias bore down on Puerto Rico, bringing high winds, flash-flood warnings and up to 8 inches of rain in some areas as forecasters predicted it would hit south Florida on Saturday, the U.S. [10], Upon making landfall in the Dominican Republic, David turned unexpectedly to the northwest, causing 125 mph (200 km/h) winds in Santo Domingo and Category 5 winds elsewhere in the country. David is believed to have been responsible for 2,068 deaths, making it one of the deadliest hurricanes of the modern era. Hurricane Andrew hit southern Dade County, Florida, especially hard, with violent winds and storm surges characteristic of a category 5 hurricane. The hardest hit area was southwestern Haiti, with eastern Cuba, western Grand Bahama Island and South Carolina and Florida in the U.S. also impacted. [22] In New Castle County, Delaware, an F2 tornado damaged numerous homes and injured five. [10] Banana fields were completely destroyed, and in the southern portion of the island most coconut trees were blown down. [12] Though it made landfall as a Category 2 storm, the strongest winds were localized, and the highest reported wind occurred in Fort Pierce, with 70 mph (115 km/h) sustained and 95 mph (155 km/h) gusts. Hurricane Frederic September 12, 1979 . Slight fluctuations in intensity occurred before the hurricane ravaged the tiny windward Island of Dominica on the 29th. On Sept. 3, 1979, David made landfall near West Palm Beach as a Category 2 hurricane, then skirted the Florida coastline before striking Brevard. On the afternoon of the 2nd, Antilles. [6], In response to the severe agricultural damage, the government initiated a food ration. For other storms of the same name, see, Hurricane David at peak intensity near landfall in. Hurricane David was a long-lived, relatively slow-moving Category 3 Hurricane that traveled from the Mid-Atlantic to the Hamptons, New York. The storm plowed through south Florida before turning up the west […] David emerged as a tropical storm in the Windward Passage on the 1st of September, then crossed the eastern tip of Cuba on its way to Florida. The island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands experienced significant rainfall amounting to 10–12 inches (250–300 mm)[10] but fairly minor damages. Though no deaths were reported, the hurricane caused 20 to 30 injuries and left 500 homeless. However, on August 29 a turn in the hours before moving through the area caused the 150 mph (240 km/h) hurricane to make a direct hit on the southern part of Dominica. [12] Strong wind gusts uprooted trees, and overall damage was minimal. Hurricane Sally: level-two storm hits Florida and Alabama – video Hurricane Sally left a trail of chaos and damage on the US Gulf coast on Wednesday, with … Hurricane Frederic strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane over the central Gulf … [1], 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 1,400 km (870 mi) to the southeast of the Cape Verde Islands. It caused torrential damage across its path, most of which occurred in the Commonwealth of Dominica where the hurricane made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. [3] David continued west-northwest, and intensified into a Category 5 hurricane in the northeast Caribbean Sea, reaching peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and minimum central pressure of 924 millibars (27.3 inHg) on August 30. ; A car drives through a still-flooded area of a neighborhood in Immokalee, Florida, Sept. 13. The storm caused torrential rainfall, resulting in extreme river flooding. Hurricane Sally left a trail of chaos and damage on the U.S. Gulf coast on Wednesday, with pounding rain and winds whipping above 100 mph as the huge Category 2 … [20] In addition, the hurricane spawned numerous tornadoes while moving through the Mid-Atlantic and New England, with associated prominent wind damage occurring even in inland communities. This was the first time a Royal Navy ship had provided a public broadcast news service. This hurricane caused a lot of damage as it slammed into Dominican Republic as a category 5 hurricane and was it struck Florida as a category 2 hurricane. A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic Ocean from the west coast of Africa on August 27. 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. Despite the casualties and damages attributed to David, the storm's effects were not as bad as in other countries. [7] Power lines were completely ripped out, causing the water system to stop as well. experienced extremely high winds as they followed the hurricane's progress from South Florida to Cocoa.[16]. The hurricane also interrupted the filming of the movie Caddyshack that was taking place at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Fort Lauderdale. David regained hurricane strength. An upper-level trough pulled David northward into Hispaniola as a Category 5 hurricane on the August 31. As an extratropical storm, David continued to the northeast over New England and the Canadian Maritimes. A trash can and debris are blown down a street by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. overspread St. Croix and Puerto Rico as David It paralleled the Florida coastline just inland until emerging into the western Atlantic Ocean at New Smyrna Beach, Florida later on September 3. South Florida Sun Sentinel | Aug 01, 2020 at 11:21 AM Tampa and St. Petersburg are not in the forecast path of Hurricane Isaias as of Saturday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. [8] Two journalists from the Brevard County-based newspaper TODAY, reporter Dick Baumbach and photographer Scott Maclay, A hurricane advisory is currently in place from the Alabama and Mississippi border to northwestern Florida. [10], Nearly 70% of the country's crops were destroyed from the torrential flooding. [12] The flooding destroyed thousands of houses, leaving over 200,000 homeless in the aftermath of the hurricane. [3] The flooding swept away entire villages and isolated communities during the storm's onslaught. 1979 Sept 3rd hurricane david hits with winds gusting to 85mph a 5 ft storm surge press 28.71 minor damage; 1995 Erin 85 mph bar 29. In total, David directly killed five in the United States, and was responsible for ten indirect deaths. 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. Associated Press Hurricane Sally wallops Florida, Alabama coast with 105-mph winds, torrential rain Published: Sept. 16, 2020 at 10:03 p.m. [12] Extreme river flooding resulted in most of the country's 2,000 fatalities. David was the first hurricane to affect the Lesser Antilles since Hurricane Inez in 1966. This can be partly attributed to the fact that local radio warnings were minimal and disaster preparedness schemes were essentially non-existent. 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 3. Hurricane David killed 2,068 and caused over $1.5 billion in damage. It was replaced with Danny for the 1985 season. [15] Total damages in Florida amounted to $95 million ($270 million in 2005 USD), of which $30 million occurred in Palm Beach County, mostly from crop damage. "[8] 1985: Hurricane Elena Satellite imagery of Hurricane Elena just before it made landfall in the Florida Panhandle. [6] 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. He along with news photographer Scott Maclay followed the path of the hurricane from Miami to Central Florida. [3] 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. [14], Because the hurricane remained near the coastline, Hurricane David failed to cause extreme damage in Florida. Hurricane David was the strongest and deadliest hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season, but not the costliest. A beachgoer runs under the rain at the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at Hollywood Beach in Florida. Many roads in the country were either damaged or destroyed from the heavy rainfall, especially in the towns of Jarabacoa, San Cristobal, and Baní. Making landfall during Labor Day weekend, David forced the cancellations of many activities in the greater Miami area.[8]. extratropical before entering New England on the 6th. ; Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9 and 10: Hurricane Irma pummeled the Florida Keys late Saturday into Sunday as a Category 4 and hit the Florida mainland as a Category 3 storm around 1 p.m. Eastern time Sunday. A citizen named Fred White ended that by using a battery-operated ham radio to contact the world. It caused torrential damage across its path, most of which occurred in the Commonwealth of Dominica where the hurricane made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. 2004 Sept 5th, Hurricane Frances hits with 105mph winds. Portions of southwestern Puerto Rico experienced sustained winds of up to 85 mph (135 km/h), while the rest of the island received tropical storm-force winds. The cyclone then accelerated up the [3], After crossing the Windward Passage, David struck eastern Cuba as a minimal hurricane on September 1. From there, the hurricane skipped up the coastline of … [3] 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 10. Becoming a hurricane on August 27, it moved west-northwestward before entering a period of rapid intensification which brought it to an intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h) on August 28. By noon on the 3rd, David moved by to the south. [3][10] Property and agricultural damage figures in Dominica are unknown. The eye passed almost directly over Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic with over a million people living there at the time. [12] Outside of Savannah GA there were dozens of boats and homes destroyed and winds on the coast were clocked at 100 MPH. A 450-foot (140-m) crane was even snapped in two at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant. afternoon of the 30th, David had become While it was a difficult and trying experience all three reporters survived and ended up winning numerous awards. David is believed to have been responsible for 2,068 deaths, making it one of the deadliest hurricanes of the modern era. With winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), David was the only storm of Category 5 intensity to make landfall on the Dominican Republic in the 20th century and the deadliest since the 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane, San Zenon, killing over 2,000 people in its path. The legend shows the different categories of hurricanes as follows: Cat 5 (dark red), Cat 4 (red), Cat 3 (orange), Cat 2 (yellow), Cat 1 (green), tropical storm (teal), tropical depression (blue), and lower category (purple). After three days, the system organized into a tropical cyclone to the west of the Cape Verde Islands. Hurricane Irma arrived in the afternoon, and was a Category 4 when it hit Cudjoe Key on Sept. 10, 2017. On the afternoon of the 2nd, Of those, 78,000 fled to shelters, while others either stayed at a friend's house further inland or traveled northward. It weakened to a tropical storm over land, but quickly re-strengthened as it again reached open waters. 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 and Newport News. Agricultural damage was severe, and combined with property damage, the hurricane was responsible for $70 million in losses ($200 million in 2005 USD). As of the 11 a.m. advisory, Hurricane Dorian is … in Asheville, NC. At least 1 dead, hundreds rescued after Hurricane Sally hits Florida, Alabama The slow-moving natural disaster unleashed massive flooding on both sides of the Florida-Alabama line. Cars and a motorcycle are underwater as water from Hurricane Sally floods a street in Pensacola, Florida on September 16, 2020. However, Irma oscillated in intensity … Michael, arriving at just a 2 mph tick below Category 5, was the strongest hurricane ever to hit the Florida Panhandle. High winds and rain downed power lines in the New York City area, leaving 2.5 million people without electricity during the storm's passage. Hurricane Sally struck on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan, a Category 3 storm that dumped about 16 inches of rain on Pensacola and was among the most powerful to hit the region. [12], Neighboring Haiti experienced very little from David, due to the hurricane's weakened state upon moving through the country. Upon entering South Carolina, David retained winds of up to hurricane force, though the highest recorded was 43 mph (69 km/h) sustained in Charleston and a 70 mph (113 km/h) wind gust in Hilton Head Island. Maximum sustained windspeeds of 141 miles per hour (227 kph), with gusts of 169 miles per hour (272 kph), were recorded on 24 August 1992 just before landfall in Florida. By two months after the storm, assistance pledges amounted to over $37 million (1979 US$) from various groups around the world. The Hurricane spawned unusually early, especially for it being the 4th storm of 2021. 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. moved off the coast of Africa on the 22nd of August, becoming a By the It turned to the northeast while weakening over land, and became extratropical on the 6th over New York. the eye of David passed 70 miles south Furthermore, Dominica had not experienced a major hurricane since 1930, thus leading to complacency amongst much of the population. One of the horrible Hurricane David Facts is more than 2000 people have died in San Zenon. 1st of September, then crossed the eastern tip of Cuba on its way to Weather Service said. [19] Overall, Hurricane David was responsible for minor damage and two casualties from its heavy surf. [13], David produced widespread damage across the United States amounting to $320 million ($900 million in 2005 USD). Frederic formed on August 29 as a tropical depression over the far eastern Atlantic and became a hurricane on September 10 over the Gulf of Mexico. [17] High winds downed numerous power lines, leaving many without power for up to two weeks after the storm. provided Most severely damaged was the agricultural industry. Hurricane David made landfall in Georgia as a quickly weakening minimal hurricane, bringing a three–five foot (0.9–1.5 m) storm surge and heavy surf. [10], Guadeloupe experienced moderate to extensive damage on Basse-Terre Island. [citation needed] Similar winds occurred in North Carolina, and lesser readings were recorded throughout the northeastern United States, excluding a 174 mph (280 km/h) wind gust on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Though it did not hit Puerto Rico, Hurricane David passed less than 100 miles (160 km) south of the island, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to the island. [3] In addition, David caused strong surf and moderate rainfall, amounting to a maximum of 8.92 inches (227 mm) in Vero Beach. Hurricane David Hurricane David was described as South Florida’s most unwelcome guest of the 1970s. Moving west-northwest through the Caribbean, [5], In the days prior to hitting Dominica, David was originally expected to hit Barbados and spare Dominica in the process. [3], Upon making landfall, David brought a storm surge of only 2-4 feet (0.6–1.2 m), due to its lack of strengthening and the obtuse angle at which it hit. of Puerto Rico causing rainfall amounts up to 21 inches. 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. A Cape Verde hurricane that reached Category 5 hurricane status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, David was the fourth named tropical cyclone, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season, traversing through the Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles, and East Coast of the United States during late August and early September. In Cocoa Beach, Baumbach decided to ride out the hurricane in his home with two other journalists. [18] Offshore, strong seas disrupted a portion of the coastal reef by moving a sunken ship 300 feet (90 m). Hurricane David also caused heavy beach erosion and $10 million in damage. Overall, 1,000 deaths were attributed to the hurricane with approximately 500 of those deaths impacting Haiti directly. Hurricane Center. Description: This map created by FCIT shows the track of hurricane David in 1979. 12; 1995 ts Jerry 9in of rain ; 1999 Oct 16th hurricane Irene hits with 75mph winds press 19.12 reports of many trees & powerlines down. In addition, David was the deadliest Dominican tropical cyclone since the 1834 Padre Ruíz hurricane, which killed over 200 people. [3], While passing through the Bahamas, David brought 70–80 mph (115–130 km/h) winds to Andros Island as the eye crossed the archipelago. The system tropical depression southwest of the Cape Hurricane Iota degenerated into just remnants Wednesday morning after chasing thousands of Central American residents from their homes as it … [3], Overall, damage was light in most areas, though it was very widespread. The storm crossed over the island and emerged as a weak hurricane after drenching the islands. There, the banana crop was completely destroyed, and combined with other losses, crop damage amounted to $100 million ($280 million in 2005 USD). Santo Domingo, becoming the strongest Hurricane Irma's strong winds and outer rain bands hit the Florida Keys on Saturday as the Category 3 storm pushed toward the state amid dire warnings. A few roofs were torn off, and numerous buildings were flooded from over six inches (150 mm) of rainfall. Initially classified as a tropical storm, Irma quickly intensified under favorable environmental conditions such as warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, becoming a hurricane on August 31. Storm surge was moderate, peaking at 8.8 feet (2.7 m) in Charleston and up to five feet (1.5 m) along much of the eastern United States coastline. Isaias started as a tropical storm and was declared a hurricane late Thursday by the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane David was an extremely deadly hurricane which caused massive loss of life in the Dominican Republic in August 1979, and was the most intense hurricane to make landfall in the country in recorded history. In addition, David dropped heavy rainfall along its path, peaking at 10.73 inches (273 mm) in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with widespread reports of over five inches (130 mm). The name David was retired following this storm because of its devastation and high death toll, and will never be used again for an Atlantic hurricane, making it the first male hurricane name in the Atlantic Ocean to be retired. Hurricane David Spared Florida in 1979 but Destroyed the Dominican Republic By Newsweek Archives On 9/8/17 at 1:55 PM EDT A picture taken on September 5 shows cars under the … The hurricane has winds of 80mph (130km/h) and is … David continued to the north-northwest, and made its final landfall just south of Savannah, Georgia as a minimal hurricane on September 5. In Maryland, David's outer bands formed seven tornadoes,[21] including an F2 in Kingsville. David caused no deaths, a few injuries, and left several hundred homeless.