Reply #5: The storm surge was greater than anyone thought possible [View All]

[jobycom]

They were expecting a 15-20 foot surge, and wound up with a 22 to maybe even 30 foot surge. Areas that were above ground during Camille were wiped out. From the footage I've seen of Biloxi and Gulfport, and knowing that Long Beach, Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis was hit harder, I can imagine a lot of dead.

I survived Camille when I was four in Bay St. Louis. Honestly, if I had lived there now, I'd have been tempted to stay. This hurricane was supposed to have 125-140 mph winds and a 15 foot storm surge, compared to Camille's 190 mph winds and 24 foot surge. People didn't think this would be as bad. But for some reason, it was much worse. I've heard some say it was because of the way it hit the Coast, and the spread and speed of the hurricane, which all made the surge so dramatic. I don't know, I'm sure it will be analyzed in great detail. But the bottom line is that people who were in regions that were safe during Camille figured they'd be safe here, and there were probably many who figured that Camille had barely touched where they lived, so this one shouldn't reach it. I know I let my guard down, and assumed it was going to be a minor hurricane once it started weakening. On paper, it looked no worse than others I've watched, like Elena. In reality, it was very different.

I hope "thousands" is an over-estimate. These freepers believe rumors easily, and they can't count, as reports of their massive war support gatherings prove. But I'm terrified the number is true.

Those are all my guesses, I have no inside knowledge.