Hurricane Hazel 1954 - Documentary

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[NKP_Vet]

On October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel delivered a devastating blow to North Carolina. It was the only category 4 hurricane to hit the state in the 20th century, and by most measures, was the worst.

[NKP_Vet]

Hurricane Hazel holds a special place in my life because it is my first memory. We lived about 90 miles from the NC coast when Hazel hit. I was 4 1/2 years old. It of course was raining like cats and dogs outside and the wind was blowing at about 100 miles an hour. My father had had one to many beers and decided he was going outside and “fly like Superman.” Just as he had opened the door I can still hear mama say “grab your daddy boys or he’s gonna blow away.” My two older brothers 14 and 12 years old, each grabbed an arm and pulled him back in the house. And of course in doing so probably saved his life. Now that’s a hell of a first memory to have, but it’s mine. In later years he couldn’t recall the event, but my mother and two big brothers could and so could this 4 year old boy. That was 64 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.

This recollection of Hurricane Hazel was posted because some time this week NC might get hit with a storm as bad or worse than Hazel. Please keep the folks in it’s path in your prayers,

[entropy12]

Go away Hazel...we already had 2 hurricanes in 2 years in Florida.

[ALX]

Thanks for sharing. By no means am I an Hurricane expert, but I can’t recall a storm just bulldozing straight into the coast from so far out. Im used to seeing them come up the cost...not perpendicular.

[tomkat]

My father had had one to many beers and decided he was going outside and “fly like Superman.”

Sure glad there's nothing like that in my past.

[Kriggerel]

It didn’t just stop at NC. You should see what it did to downtown Toronto.

[Capt_Hank]

I was 9 years old, living in Chester, PA. It was blowing shingles from the houses, and wires down. The sound of the wind howling all night long and things hitting the house. Woke up in the morning, skies were clear and much cooler.

I was docked in Port Norris, NJ, during the 70’s. I understand from the “Old Timers”, Hazel destroyed the oyster business there.

[Berlin_Freeper]

A quaint story, basically about something that did not happen.

I can top that.

[struggle]

Went through Katrina in Jackson MS. I’m worried because I have 50 ft trees all around my house and live on a slope.

[Adder]

Mine too! And I was in NJ. NO power, sitting around a candle while the folks held hands...then seeing the destruction.
Just little snippets but how searing was that storm!

[tomkat]

Thanks for that video link .. amazing stories !

It's been so long, but to the best of my recollection that's what real journalism used to be like, and probably never will be again.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Is no one going to ask me to top it?
Time is well past 1am and I have a little girl to bring to school.

[knarf]

And I, a 7 year old child in Boston, remember hurricane Carol ... 1955

[GoDuke]

My grandfather had a house on Holden beach destroyed by Hazel. The house he built to replace it was totalled by Hugo. There was a house on Holden that was pushed across the intercoastal waterway to the mainland. They had to float it back over.

[WVNan]

We went through Camille in Jackson, Miss. We had 28 50 ft pine trees in our yard. One fell on our house right over our bed. Not fun, but felt blessed afterward.

[freepertoo]

Wow, what a story!

[katykelly]

I’ll bite .

[Spirochete]

I can’t recall a storm just bulldozing straight into the coast from so far out. Im used to seeing them come up the cost...not perpendicular.

Hurricane Hugo had somewhat perpendicular trajectory into South Carolina, 1989.

[PhilSC]

Hugo hit Charlotte with about 100 mph winds.

[C210N]

some time this week NC might get hit with a storm as bad or worse than Hazel...

The Hazel docu said it was moving at a very fast clip... 25 knots, speeding up to 50.

Florence will be a slow mover, perhaps getting mostly stationary, as it winds down in place within NC/VA.

The difference may mean: torrential rains (4' in some places I heard), but shorter lived and more contained winds.

[hecticskeptic]

It didn’t just stop at NC. You should see what it did to downtown Toronto.

Almost took the letters away from my keyboard.... there are a whole slew of bridges two hours northwest of Toronto that all had to be replaced in 1954 because of Hazel washing them out....