25 Nov 1940
Page 1
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Newspaper
Amarillo Globe
Location
Amarillo, Texas, United States of America
Date
Nov 25, 1940
Page
1
Amarillo endures the worst Panhandle ice spell in history isolating the city. Power returns in downtown areas after 1 PM as residents improvise with candles and kerosene lamps. Fire and police are overwhelmed, sanitation problems grow, and gas lights aid basic needs amid widespread outages.
Amateur radio operators supplied Amarillo with a vital outside connection during the storm. Tex Smith set up a Globe News station relaying dispatches to Wellington Kansas and El Paso while coordinating emergency crew orders and materials. Dr W B Thomas connected Globe News with UPI via Dallas and Oklahoma City, with others at KFDA and Amarillo Electric assisting. Braniff Airways also deployed a grounded plane to begin reporting.
A heavy snowstorm blanketed the northern and central parts of New Mexico. State officials in Santa Fe mobilized equipment from the south to clear highways and predicted additional snowfall in the affected area.
Radio reports say East and Central Texas endure the worst floods in history as bridges fail highways close and rail lines wash out. The Trinity crosses flood stage in Liberty and Palestine sees 14.5 inches of rain in three days while Dallas and Houston face rising waters threatening downtown areas.
The gas company warns that draining water from the hot water heater requires turning off the main burner to avoid damage. If you do not drain the tank, no adjustment is necessary.
Amarillo faced a water crisis as electric pumps stalled by broken ice laden power lines left millions of gallons inaccessible. Booster pumps on fire trucks provided limited pressure while officials eyed tapping twin reservoirs and restoring power to the McDonald and Word sites to resume pumping.
Hospitals in Amarillo endured power loss with battery light and oil lamps. Northwest Texas Hospital used a gasoline engine for power while births occurred by candlelight and battery lamps. Three girls born Sunday midnight to Bradford, Tatum, and Lamb families. Lamb infant in incubator. St Anthony’s performed two operations with battery lighting and rainwater harvesting supported by water storage.
Emergency relief to aid Amarillo in clearing storm debris was requested from the WPA. An application for at least 200 workers and 30 to 50 trucks was to be filed, as A A Meredith traveled toward San Antonio to contact WPA offices after a meeting with city manager H R Smith.
Amarillo Schools superintendent C. M. Rogers announced that schools would remain closed tomorrow. Heat depends on electric power for vacuum pumps on steam boilers and power lines to many outlying schools may not be restored for several days.
The News and the Globe were printed and ready for delivery after an afternoon power outage halted presses briefly. Both papers resumed immediately once power was restored and prepared for Globe time distribution.
Amarillo residents faced a water shortage with limited supplies reserved for drinking. Some businessmen chose to stay unwashed and unshaven while icicles were used for shaving, reflecting a city coping with scarcity and campy humor about the crisis. Public notices reference Newby's Linoleum at 418 West Tenth.
Trains moved cautiously as railroads operated with limited communications. Passenger services ran on timetable, while freight trains followed behind to prevent a lost train, reflecting a period of uncertain rail operations.
Greek Evzone troops seized three towns on the northern front as Italian forces retreated in Albania. Italy reportedly lost another division and 25 000 more troops were surrounded while Britain increased support to Greece. Berlin accused Metaxas of being a British tool amid renewed Western air combat and raids on England.
An ice storm spread across the plains from Fort Sumner New Mexico to Pampa Texas and beyond with towns like Amarillo Hape ly Hereford Canyon Clovis and Dum as experiencing outages. Texline reported 14 inches of snow. widespread damage included damaged furniture with power failures reported at Russell Stationery Company.
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