Have You Been at Ground Zero of a Major Hurricane?

[Camille_2_Katrina]

burp

[jes]

I went through Fredrick (sp) which was a strong Cat 3. I wasn't on the outshirts. I remember the calm of the eye. Our city was devastated --- the worst part was seeing all the destruction the next day. But you know what --only one or two people lost their lives --- the one I remember was someone who went outside during the storm. I worked for FEMA after the storm and even the coastal people were OK. Fredrick was not a rain or flood event. It was the very strong wind that did most of the damage. However, even that strong wind didn't blow houses down --- I didn't even have roof damage --- although many did from fallen trees. Actually, that is what I remember most as far as damage ------ all the down trees and no power for two weeks. I do believe if you're far enough away from water it may be a better idea to stay put instead of getting on the dangerous roads. Houses don't usually blow down. However, trees around houses can be dangerous.
Also, I think there has been a couple Cat 2's through here since Frederick -- they weren't bad at all. I'd never leave for a Cat 2.

[facemane]

Since becoming a member of this forum, I am now completely confused on what category storm I have personally gone through.

So, I'll just give you their names and let the categories fall where they may... Sorry, though, I can't vote in the poll 'cause, like I said, I have no idea what I went through...

Betsy
Camille
Frederick
Elena
Georges
Katrina

And a WHOLE BUNCH of tropical storms and close calls (we even lost power for two days here in Biloxi with Ivan)

The same here with the exception of Katrina. I evacuated to a family members home in South Georgia for that one.

[beachbum_al]

Frederic in 79...yes I was young but remember it. Not necessary scared to death but awe with mother nature and her power. I think that is what started my fascination with weather.

Ivan in 2004. Scared to death but knew what was going on this time.

[vbhoutex]

I have been through several Hurricanes, including the eyes of two. Only Alicia was classified as a CAT 3 at landfall. She was not CAT 3 when the eye went over my house though.

Flossy in 1958 in Gulf Breeze, Fl was the first. CAT 1 My first remembered hurricane experience. We caught the eye on this one.

Alma in Tallahassee in 1965(??)-it was an A named storm. Lots of tree damage and bushes torn out of the ground. CAT 1 gusts at best.

Camille while in Gulf Breeze, FL in 1969. About the same winds as Alicia at the house. We were 120 miles from landfall!!

Alicia in 1983 here in Houston. The eye went over our house with this one too. Winds at the house were probably sustained around 70-75 mph with gusts to 90 mph or so. Also had a tornado go through the neighborhood, apparently just off the ground since it lifted the tree in our front, yard twisted it, and set it back down, but no roof damage.

Numerous TS's and several brushes with other Hurricanes, but not the brunt of any others. As lucky as I have been, I don't feel the need to experience any more.

[cajungal]

I never been through an actual eyewall of a hurricane. But, been through a few with tropical storms. Bill and Isidore, the center passed directly over me. I got pretty close with Andrew. Part of the storm scraped Terrebonne Parish before coming on shore. The eyewall actually hit Morgan City which is 25 miles due west of my home.

My parents went through Hurricane Betsy the eyewall. But, only my mom experienced it. She went through Betsy in Thibodaux. And the eyewall went straight up Lafourche Parish. Eyewall passed directly over Houma and Thibodaux both. The eyewall for Betsy was 40 miles across. My dad, my grandparents, and his 2 brothers and sister lived in Cut Off during Betsy. Cut Off is about 45 minutes or so north of Grand Isle. But, my dad's family chose not to ride out Betsy and evacuted to central Louisiana.

My neighbor who is now 94 years old has went through the Hurricane of 1926. The eyewall passed directly over here. She told me it was bad and it was very heavy damage. She was only 14 years old and still tells me the story very well.

I don't feel like telling my story again. I told it more times than I can count on here. If you happened to never read my story about Andrew or my parents story with Betsy, just look up my previous posts. I am sure you will find it.

[Scorpion]

Never been through a major hurricane. I think the only folks who have witnessed bonafide Cat 3 winds recently were near the landfall zone of Charley and perhaps those who lived close to shore where Dennis hit, and of course if anyone was in the Everglades where Wilma hit.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

I was in South Florida when Adrew made landfall (visiting family at the time); what do you think I highly doubt anything could top that.

[DESTRUCTION5]

Try being in Andrews Eye when you have nothing but the wallsof your home left and as you look outside you glance to the SE and see 5 tornados dancing around the SE eye wall then you think...OMG Im going to die today...It don't get any worse than that...

[jax]

Try being in Andrews Eye when you have nothing but the wallsof your home left and as you look outside you glance to the SE and see 5 tornados dancing around the SE eye wall then you think...OMG Im going to die today...It don't get any worse than that...

i don't think andrew was as bad as Camille or Katrina...

[SouthFloridawx]

I don't think you can compare hurricanes that hit one area to another because andrew was mainly wind damage and although katrinas winds were bad they weren't as bad as Andrews...

http://dept.kent.edu/geography/dymon/andrew.htm

[DESTRUCTION5]

Try being in Andrews Eye when you have nothing but the wallsof your home left and as you look outside you glance to the SE and see 5 tornados dancing around the SE eye wall then you think...OMG Im going to die today...It don't get any worse than that...

i don't think andrew was as bad as Camille or Katrina...

Yea not if you lived in Miss....Try homestead in aug 1992..

[jax]

nah... andrew just wasn't as bad...
jmho

[Mattie]

The worst - among others - Betsy and Camille

[DESTRUCTION5]

nah... andrew just wasn't as bad...
jmho

Well thee is no way to say it unless you were there....Next time you see a 2X4 driven thru a 70 yr old pine tree take a pic for me...we'll share stories..

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

I agree on this much. Andrew was much smaller than Katrina. The damage was extreme, but confined to a small area. Katrina's wind damage was less extreme, but spread out over a much larger area. Also the water (storm surge and rainfall) did the lion's share of the truly devastating damage in Katrina, unlike Andrew. It is like comparing Apples and Oranges (as the old saying goes) people.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Try being in Andrews Eye when you have nothing but the wallsof your home left and as you look outside you glance to the SE and see 5 tornados dancing around the SE eye wall then you think...OMG Im going to die today...It don't get any worse than that...

Thank God nothing quite that bad happened to us. The exterior walls where totaled, but thank God the interior room we were in didn't fully lose the roof. It was rocking and rolling that is for sure. My relatives' home was totaled though, and had to be demolished. Funny thing was about three houses down on either side the homes were more or less totally obliterated.

[weatherwoman132]

I went through, Wilma, katrina (as a minimal hurricane), frances, jeanne. and I'll tell you what. I dont ever want to go through another one. I know how lots of people that live in the northern states, and very far inland always want to experience a hurricane, but I'll tell you what, it's NOT what it's cracked up to be. I used to want to expereince, "the big one". after wilma, as a category 3, coming ashore, blowing two of my windows out, with steel shutters, and witnessing a roof, floating in the lake behind my house, I dont ever want to go through one ever again. It is never the same when it happens to you. when some of my friends were now called homeless. even katrina when it came as a category 1 hurricane, it still caused flooding and damage, and managed to kill people. even though category 5's are the worst, and people think they dont need to prepare for a category 1, they do. they can do a lot of damage as well.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Very true. Couldn't have put it better myself. Many people think a hurricane is "fun". Usually these are the same people who have never even been in a cat 1 or 2, little own a major storm.

[weatherwoman132]

yeah. to tell you the truth, now, you dont even know what a tropical storm can do.