A Hurricane Story

[Firecom911]

You long-time residents of Mississippi and Louisiana may find this interesting.

I'm sure many of us here, especially those of us in "hurricane country" remember Dr. John Hope, that white-haired elderly meteorologist who was the hurricane expert for The Weather Channel from TWC's beginning in 1982 until his death 20 years later.

"Dr John's" meteorological career began in World War 2. He would later serve as chief weatherman for NASA's Mercury and Gemini space flights.

Dr John had tremendous hurricane experience and an easy-going manner on television during hurricane seasons with The Weather Channel.

Viewers would listen to what he said.

It boggles my mind to try to imagine how many lives this man saved.

In the 1960s Dr John worked for the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

In those days there were no assigned lists of hurricane names which rotated every six years.

Hurricane names were female, and the meteorologists simply met and chose names for the upcoming hurricane season.

One day in the Spring of 1969 there was a meeting to choose hurricane names for the upcoming season.

Dr John's daughter was graduating from high school that Spring, and, in her honor, he suggested adding her name to the list.

His daughter's name?

Camille.



Dr. John Hope 1919-2002

 

[charlie sherrill]

I definately remember Camille. It churned in the Gulf for a week before smashing Mississippi in August of 1969 as a category 5. We were almost over it when Katrina hit.

 

[armsmaster270]

I rode out Betsy in 1965 at Coast Guard Base New Orleans. The levee blew out to the ninth ward right across the Industrial Canal from us. After the 2nd side of the hurricane went over I was operating a 18 foot aluminum fishing boat with a 5hp motor going up and down the streets picking people up off their roofs. Did that for 72 hours straight, stopping only once to get a sandwich brought to me when I brought some survivors in. After that straight to Baton Rouge to a sunken chlorine barge site. Was there 3 months on Temp. Duty.

 

[bk43]

I definately remember Camille.

Me too. Spent a week running medical supplies over to the Gulf Coast from New Orleans. Man, what a mess.

Bob

 

[Airpark]

Definitely remember Camille although I was not in that one.

For Katrina, we stayed put on the coast, rode it out. Could not get out of the subdivision for five days, nothing worked.

Finally got out and went to Talahasse, Fl, checked into motel and they ran us out after one night.....lady said we could not stay....price going up to $149.00 per night. ...I said I would pay....she said NO.

Reason....Florida was playing Florida State at the local stadium and they were booked solid.....football rules over catastrophy every time.

Still on the coast, waiting for the next one.