Hurricane Camille
Mississippi Gulf Coast - August 17-18, 1969
"On the night of August 17, 1969 Hurricane Camille
hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Many had scoffed at the forecast of
unprecedented high winds and expected a rising tide, but in the early
morning hours of August 18th were firm believers. Final data on the
storm reported wind velocity in excess of 210 miles per hour and a tidal
surge in excess of 24 feet topped with at least a 10 foot sea. Many of
those who refused to believe the forecast and stayed at home to ride
out the storm lived to regret it.
Some did not live through it. The
latest survey reveals l34 deaths; 27 missing; 8,931 injured; 5,662 homes
destroyed and 13,915 suffering major losses. This is not counting the
loss of businesses, other structures, and much of the natural beauty of
the Mississippi Coast. The total destruction area of Harrison County
alone was 68 square miles. Because of ample warning the death toll was
not as high as in some previous hurricanes, but the destruction was
unprecedented in United States history to that time."
To read the remainder of this article and browse the hurricane archives of the Harrison County Library, click
here.