October 1963 - Haiti (Hurricane Flora)
![330-PSA-243-63 (USN 711379): Isolated by Hurricane Flora, Haitians, wave at a rescue helicopter from Anti-submarine Squadron 11. Photograph release October 25, 1963. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. 330-PSA-243-63 (USN 711379): Isolated by Hurricane Flora, Haitians, wave at a rescue helicopter from Anti-submarine Squadron 11. Photograph release October 25, 1963. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1960-1969/1963-haiti-hurricane-flora/_jcr_content/body/media_asset/image.img.jpg/1677779717624.jpg)
Caption:
During September-October 1963, Hurricane Flora ravaged the Caribbean and Florida. Due to the devastation in Haiti, especially at Petit-Trou-de-Nippes where the village was about 85 percent destroyed, the U.S. Navy dispatched USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) and USS Thetis Bay (LPH-6) to the area where they flew approximately 271 sorties, evacuated an estimaged 347 people, and airlifted about 330,105 pounds of relief supplies. One-thousand people died in the storm and left hundres homeless. Other ships involved were USS Liddle (APD-60) and USS Muliphen (AKA-61).
![330-PSA-243-63 (USN 711380): Refugees of a Storm. Citizens of Petit Thou de Nippes, Haiti – once self-sustaining – gather among the ruins of their city to await relief supplies from U.S. Navy ships. Photograph release October 25, 1963. Official U... 330-PSA-243-63 (USN 711380): Refugees of a Storm. Citizens of Petit Thou de Nippes, Haiti – once self-sustaining – gather among the ruins of their city to await relief supplies from U.S. Navy ships. Photograph release October 25, 1963. Official U...](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1960-1969/1963-haiti-hurricane-flora/_jcr_content/body/media_asset_250057066/image.img.jpg/1677779742441.jpg)
Caption:
![330-PSA-243-63 (USN 711381): Rescued from a mountain. A distressed Haitian is lifted to a helicopter from Anti-Submarine Squadron 11, after being stranded on a mountain-side after Hurricane Flora hit the island. Photograph release October 25, 196... 330-PSA-243-63 (USN 711381): Rescued from a mountain. A distressed Haitian is lifted to a helicopter from Anti-Submarine Squadron 11, after being stranded on a mountain-side after Hurricane Flora hit the island. Photograph release October 25, 196...](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1960-1969/1963-haiti-hurricane-flora/_jcr_content/body/media_asset_2009518881/image.img.jpg/1677779771098.jpg)
Caption:
The National Museum of the U.S. Navy has the quarterdeck name board of USS Thetis Bay (LPH-6) on display in the Cold War Gallery.
Published: Thu Apr 23 10:18:57 EDT 2020