CrimsonCowboy
08-28-2015, 09:26 PM
It's a bit hard to believe, but Saturday marks 10 years since Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast. Living just outside Mobile, I don't have the horror stories that those in New Orleans and in Mississippi do. But here is my memories of the storm:
Friday August 26th:
The storm had been projected to move WNW across south Florida and turn towards the panhandle. Instead, it moved WSW. By late afternoon, the forecast had dramatically changed. I was right in the bulls-eye. The projected path moved a bit more west later that evening, but it was apparent that a major hurricane was on its way to the Gulf Coast.
Saturday August 27thn
On this day, it was the start of the preparation. Grocery store run, checking the yard, and things like that. At this point, the middle of the target moved to New Orleans and that started the media frenzy. The winds stayed around 115, but strengthening was in the forecast.
Sunday August 28th:
A little after midnight, the seriousness of the situation ramped up significantly. After some rapid strengthening, Katrina became a 145 MPH monster. Went to bed and woke up around 8:00 to get ready for church. Found out the storm became a category 5 at 165 MPH. Between services, it was learned it grew to 175 MPH. You could feel the nerves. After church, gassed up the car and headed home. Immediately checked the latest info. The National Weather Service in New Orleans had issued the strongest worded bulletin I had ever seen (I'll share it in the next post). My mother and me helped move my grandmother down to our house, which is a far safer structure. Boarded up the south facing windows and cleaned up things from the yard. After that, just waiting and watching.
Monday August 29th:
The day arrives. Katrina makes her first landfall near the Mouth of the Mississippi River around 6:00. A bit after, weather here goes downhill and power is lost. The second landfall happens around 10:00 (I think) at the Louisiana/Mississippi border. Most of the day is spent listening to battery powered radio to the reports. Hearing west end of Dauphin Island is heavily damaged and record storm surge flooding in Downtown Mobile. But, the reports from Mississippi and Louisiana were much worse.
Weather started to calm down during the middle of the day. Still had some wind, which actually helped get some air in the house. The realization of Katrina's wrath came that evening. We had a battery powered TV and had it on WKRG-TV. A reporter was in Biloxi and a man with his two grandsons wandering the street. The man's name was Hardy Jackson. Mr. Jackson told the reporter, Jennifer Mayerlie, that he was holding on to his wife as the surge was tearing their house apart. Mr. Jackson's wife told him to let her go, that she couldn't hold on anymore. Last thing she told him was to take care of the kids. And with that, they let go. Her body was never found. Jennifer could not keep from crying on camera. Will never forget that report as long as I live.
Tuesday August 30th:
After checking on my grandmother's house, and seeing no damage to it, kind of took it easy. Had no power for the day and night. I remember that evening, me and the neighbors across the street joking around, blinking flashlights at each other. Had water, but with no power, the hot water heater was of no use. I actually didn't care. Best cold shower, ever! Some neighborhoods close to us got their power back, but not us. Had a wait a bit longer.
Wednesday and Thursday:
Power returned Wednesday morning around 9:30. When you lose power for a while, you appreciate it a bit more! Cable wasn't back yet, but was able to rig the TV to watch the continuing local news coverage. Finally got a good look at what Katrina had done through the area. Cable returned Thursday. Got to see the Braves game that evening. Considering the past few days, that was a good thing. Also, saw the news coverage from the national channels.
Hard to believe it has been a decade already since Hurricane Katrina. Seems like it shouldn't be that long. There are still some scars, even 10 years later, but the progress on the Gulf Coast since August 29, 2005 has been unmistakable. Here's hoping we never see another Hurricane Katrina again.
Friday August 26th:
The storm had been projected to move WNW across south Florida and turn towards the panhandle. Instead, it moved WSW. By late afternoon, the forecast had dramatically changed. I was right in the bulls-eye. The projected path moved a bit more west later that evening, but it was apparent that a major hurricane was on its way to the Gulf Coast.
Saturday August 27thn
On this day, it was the start of the preparation. Grocery store run, checking the yard, and things like that. At this point, the middle of the target moved to New Orleans and that started the media frenzy. The winds stayed around 115, but strengthening was in the forecast.
Sunday August 28th:
A little after midnight, the seriousness of the situation ramped up significantly. After some rapid strengthening, Katrina became a 145 MPH monster. Went to bed and woke up around 8:00 to get ready for church. Found out the storm became a category 5 at 165 MPH. Between services, it was learned it grew to 175 MPH. You could feel the nerves. After church, gassed up the car and headed home. Immediately checked the latest info. The National Weather Service in New Orleans had issued the strongest worded bulletin I had ever seen (I'll share it in the next post). My mother and me helped move my grandmother down to our house, which is a far safer structure. Boarded up the south facing windows and cleaned up things from the yard. After that, just waiting and watching.
Monday August 29th:
The day arrives. Katrina makes her first landfall near the Mouth of the Mississippi River around 6:00. A bit after, weather here goes downhill and power is lost. The second landfall happens around 10:00 (I think) at the Louisiana/Mississippi border. Most of the day is spent listening to battery powered radio to the reports. Hearing west end of Dauphin Island is heavily damaged and record storm surge flooding in Downtown Mobile. But, the reports from Mississippi and Louisiana were much worse.
Weather started to calm down during the middle of the day. Still had some wind, which actually helped get some air in the house. The realization of Katrina's wrath came that evening. We had a battery powered TV and had it on WKRG-TV. A reporter was in Biloxi and a man with his two grandsons wandering the street. The man's name was Hardy Jackson. Mr. Jackson told the reporter, Jennifer Mayerlie, that he was holding on to his wife as the surge was tearing their house apart. Mr. Jackson's wife told him to let her go, that she couldn't hold on anymore. Last thing she told him was to take care of the kids. And with that, they let go. Her body was never found. Jennifer could not keep from crying on camera. Will never forget that report as long as I live.
Tuesday August 30th:
After checking on my grandmother's house, and seeing no damage to it, kind of took it easy. Had no power for the day and night. I remember that evening, me and the neighbors across the street joking around, blinking flashlights at each other. Had water, but with no power, the hot water heater was of no use. I actually didn't care. Best cold shower, ever! Some neighborhoods close to us got their power back, but not us. Had a wait a bit longer.
Wednesday and Thursday:
Power returned Wednesday morning around 9:30. When you lose power for a while, you appreciate it a bit more! Cable wasn't back yet, but was able to rig the TV to watch the continuing local news coverage. Finally got a good look at what Katrina had done through the area. Cable returned Thursday. Got to see the Braves game that evening. Considering the past few days, that was a good thing. Also, saw the news coverage from the national channels.
Hard to believe it has been a decade already since Hurricane Katrina. Seems like it shouldn't be that long. There are still some scars, even 10 years later, but the progress on the Gulf Coast since August 29, 2005 has been unmistakable. Here's hoping we never see another Hurricane Katrina again.