Hurricane David relief operations

Hurricane David ripped through the Caribbean between 29 Aug and 1 Sep 1979, striking the Dominican Republic late on 29 Aug. The Hurricane was one of the most devastating of the 20th century with winds of 175mph (280 kph) and pressures as low as 925 HPa, although its origins were in a tropical depression first spotted c 2000km SW of the Cape Verde Islands around 25 Aug.

British, French and American military aid was mobilised and the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Fife was one of the first to arrive on 30 Aug, while David headed on NW, to carve a trail of damage through the coastal SE of the USA from 2 Sep.