Posted on 09/09/2005 2:45:33 AM PDT by lunarbicep
The devastation in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina is evoking memories of the last major hurricane to strike the area--Hurricane Betsy--which pounded the Crescent City 40 years ago on Sept. 9 and 10 of 1965. Both storms traveled west across extreme southern Florida and intensified over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico as they approached Louisiana. But unlike Katrina, which passed just to the east of New Orleans, Betsy's path took it west of the city--a potentially more dangerous scenario that sent the hurricane's 10-foot storm surge from the Gulf up the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain, generating widespread flooding. Winds at the New Orleans weather office peaked at 125 m.p.h. when the power failed. Fortunately, the levees held firm, and flooding in the New Orleans area was not as catastrophic compared to Katrina. In its wake, Betsy claimed 75 lives and became the first U.S. hurricane to produce more than $1 billion dollars of damage, earning the nickname "Billion Dollar Betsy."
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
"Fortunately, the levees held firm"
It's good to see that the levee commissions of yesteryear used the funds they were appropriated. Too bad their contemporaries were less responsible.
that same scenario is setup now with Ophelia
I thought I was the only one thinking Ophelia reminded me of Betsy.
I was in Betsy in New orleans, my hurricane claaim to fame.
Not all the levees. There was a breach in the Industrial Canal, which resulted in 8 feet of standing water in my neighborhood.
bfl
same weather scenario is setting up for it, wish I knew water temps at shore off AL/N Florida
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