I Didn't Want to Evacuate

[Berwick Bay]

The wind picked up quite suddenly that during the school day. We had been inside the building and so when we walked out for lunch recess, it was quite surprising to see the gusts whipping some of the small leaves around throughout the large old fashioned school playground. There was something very exhilarating about it. Our energy level immediately picked up. We knew there was a storm, but we didn't quite understand its nearness, nor were we paying close attention to the advisories the way the adult were. With the increase in the wind, we were not shocked when we were informed that school would be dismissed early that day. Excitedly we hurried home. We knew now that Hurricane Betsy was on the way. The wind continued to increase as my family waited for Daddy to get home from work. But he was late as usual. He worked at a net shop in Berwick, La. mending nets for shrimp boats. It seemed as though he would never get home, but finally he did. We got our things together and headed west up Hwy 90 toward Lafayette, La. Very slowly of course. As we left, I wished we didn't have to go. The wind rushed around us, and at that point there was no rain. I wanted to stay. But I knew that it was impossible. Meanwhile, Betsy, a storm that had previously ravaged S Fl., barreled its way toward the Gulf Coast. This large and dangerous hurricane was now an older storm, and had an eye at least40 miles across. It was moving at an incredible 20-25 mph toward the SE La. Coast. Soon it would be upon us.

[skysummit]

My mother has told me many stories about Betsy. I wasn't born yet. Her and my dad just got married. They rode it out in a small mobile home. The mobile home was picked up and thrown next to the Lockport water tower....well what used to be the water tower. They survived without a scratch. They didn't evacuate for Katrina and were lucky she turned at the very last minute. Still they have decided not to evacuate this year. I hope they change their mind.

[Huckster]

I just found these images today. Looks like some serious reanalysis work has been done on Betsy. Apparently, Betsy was a Cat. 4, 137-143 mph at landfall in LA.

[img]ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/pub/hwind/1965/Betsy/0910/0300/col04deg.png[/img]



[img]ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/pub/hwind/1965/Betsy/0910/0400/col04deg.png[/img]

[wobblehead]

When I was a young lad my Grandfather Popeye told me stories of the storms he experienced in the early 1900's that hit Mobile. I got real excited when Betsy headed our way because I wanted to experience what Popeye experienced. We actually boarded up for her. I was real disappointed when she headed for Nawlins.

[Jinkers]

I remember Betsy, I was just a little kid, when it passed here thru South Florida, I remember my mom and dad trying to keep us kids calm.

[gginnola]

I was 5 years old when Betsy hit. We lived in Metairie at the time. All I remember is the sliding glass door that we had bending in and out. I didn't know that glass could bend like that. My parents kept my sisters and I in the hallway that had no windows. When it was over, we went outside and our swing set was twisted into a ball of metal. Ever since Betsy, my family has always evacuated.