Hurricane Carla

[TexWx]

For some reason I'm pretty fascinated with this storm.
Being from Texas City, and my parents being from there as well, they used to tell me stories about Carla all the time.
The damage, things they lost, the storm surge...etc.

I've put a pretty nice book together of mostly: meteorological data, satellite photos, regular photos and other write-ups on the storm.

But, I was just wondering if anyone knows where I can find any
audio/news or video files on Carla... I can't find anything.

Now I know that there is a video somewhere out there with Dan Rather reporting on Carla, but I can't find that either...

Any help on this would greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Berwick Bay]

September 14th, 1961 (Carla): No list of Texas hurricanes would be complete without the mention of Carla, which made landfall near Port Lavaca. Carla was among the largest hurricanes of historical record (number 2 behind the Great New England Hurricane of 1938). The storm produced many tornadoes, gusts estimated to 175 m.p.h., torrential rains, and a 22 foot storm surge at Port O'Connor. Hurricane force gusts were seen along almost the entire Texas Coast. Winds gusted to 86 mph at Corpus Christi. Her path of devastation inland extended from Victoria to Dallas. The death toll of only 34 in Texas can be attributed in part to what was the largest peace time evacuation of an area in history. A quarter million people fled the middle and upper Texas coasts to move inland to safety.

To the left, in red, is a map of counties Carla had its greatest impact upon in Texas.
Twenty-six tornadoes were spawned, one of which tore apart 120 buildings and killed 6 in Galveston. Structures outside the seawall were severely damaged by the storm surge. Texas city saw 90% of its homes flooded. Surfside, near Freeport, saw extensive damage. The trail of destruction extended south to Point Isabel, where 4-5 foot storm surges were seen. Port O'Connor was 75% wiped out.

The Matagorda Island Air Force Base was virtually swept away. Damage there totaled $18 million. In Jefferson County, 180 miles from the landfalling storm, $17.5 million in damage occurred, with $14 million of it water damage. Rain totaled 19" at Votan. Three to four feet of water flooded Port Arthur. The only injuries reported there were due to snake bites. Total damages were estimated near $400 million. See Louisiana Hurricane History for more fringe effects from this large and destructive hurricane.

[CrazyC83]

I personally think the pressure of Carla was greatly underestimated. I think the minimum central pressure at her peak was about 906mb and at landfall was about 921mb, based on the size, location and impacts.

[HurricaneBill]

Wasn't a 178mph wind gust recorded during Carla?

[Stratosphere747]

Wasn't a 178mph wind gust recorded during Carla?

Yes, might have been 172, I'm going fuzzy right now without my notes.

Highest gust measured, besides Blue Hill during the 38 storm.

[weatherrabbit_tx]

some reports in the victoria/pt. lavaca area of over 200 mph, but I'm sure it was with tornado induce, victoria itself had gusts over 150, believe the anamometer broke at then foster field now victoria regional, where I grew up in western wharton county had over a foot of rain and winds over 100+ mph.......

[Ptarmigan]

I wrote an article about Carla. Quite a large hurricane for sure.

Link

[weatherrabbit_tx]

http://www.palaciosbeacon.com/home/carlafeature4.shtml

more on hurricane carla from the palacios beacon newspaper

[CrazyC83]

I wonder what the re-analysis project will come up with for Carla?

[Stratosphere747]

I wonder what the re-analysis project will come up with for Carla?

I doubt it will change. For the most part, even for being in the sixties it was a fairly well sampled storm for that era. The pressure reading from the dredging company seems solid. I know there has been some debate that it was a five at landfall, but I feel when the do re-analysis they will keep it at a upper four.

Takes nothing away from how historic it was. Doubt anyone could imagine a storm being stronger and bigger than Katrina.

Carla was just that.

[CrazyC83]

I wonder what the re-analysis project will come up with for Carla?

I doubt it will change. For the most part, even for being in the sixties it was a fairly well sampled storm for that era. The pressure reading from the dredging company seems solid. I know there has been some debate that it was a five at landfall, but I feel when the do re-analysis they will keep it at a upper four.

Takes nothing away from how historic it was. Doubt anyone could imagine a storm being stronger and bigger than Katrina.

Carla was just that.

I don't think it was a Cat 5 at landfall, but I think its pressure was lower than the estimates show. My estimates are 906 at peak, 921 at landfall.

[Berwick Bay]

Carla was also a VERY unusual Bay of Colombia--deep South Carib storm. Very unusual for those to find their way to the U.S. Coast, as most move west toward Central America. Even late season storms which form that far to the south still tend to move west toward the Nicaragua area. Take a look at this track. Very unusual that it found its way to the Texas Coast WITHOUT being broken up over Central America or the Yucutan Penninsula first. What a storm. Here is the link with Carla's track.
http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at1961.asp

[Ptarmigan]

I don't think it was a Cat 5 at landfall, but I think its pressure was lower than the estimates show. My estimates are 906 at peak, 921 at landfall.

Carla at landfall had 145 to 150 mph winds with gusts of 175 to 185 mph.

[HurricaneBill]

Oh, I think it would be a nightmare if a hurricane like Carla struck today. I don't know if there would be as many deaths, but damage would probably be staggering.

How far out did hurricane-force winds extend from the center? I heard hurricane-force winds were reported more than 100 miles away from the eye.

[Normandy]

^galveston recorded winds near or at hurricane force during Carla, and Carla made landfall 100 miles SW (roughly where Claudette of 2003 made landfall). Basically almost the entire Texas coast experienced hurricane force winds, minus areas like Brownsville and Beaumont/Port arthur.

[TexWx]

Thank you for the replies...
I found a little bit of footage from Carla here, with Dan Rather...

http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2005/03 ... rson.shtml