 While moving across Trinidad , Alma produced sustained winds of only 35 mph ( 56 km / h ) at <unk> . However , gusts reached 91 mph ( 147 km / h ) at <unk> . Rainfall at <unk> reached about 1 inch ( 25 mm ) during the storm 's passage . Strong winds downed trees and power lines , and damaged about 5 @,@ 000 buildings , including hundreds of households , wrecking everything inside ; this left about 500 people homeless . There was also widespread damage to agriculture , mostly to sugar , amounting to 17 @,@ 750 acres ( 7 @,@ 180 ha ) of damaged fields . The storm damaged several highways in the country , along with damaged schools and hospitals . The winds flung debris from a roof of a house and struck a woman , killing her . There was also an indirect death on the island , along with several injuries . Damage on the island was estimated at $ 5 million ( 1974 USD ) , and Alma was considered the most destructive storm in Trinidad during the 20th century , according to the American embassy in the country . After the storm , the local Red Cross chapter provided meals and clothing to thousands of storm victims . The government allocated $ 5 @.@ 1 million ( Trinidad and Tobago dollars ) for relief work , to be coordinated by the National Emergency Relief Organization of Trinidad and Tobago , which was established following the damaging Hurricane Flora in 1963 . This helped rebuild damage houses , clear roads , and assist affected farmers . The United States Agency for International Development sent about $ 5 @,@ 000 ( USD ) in assistance , after the country 's ambassador sent a formal request to Washington , D.C. The Amoco oil company also sent a $ 500 ( USD ) donation to the country 's Red Cross . 
