| James88 |
| (Weather Master) |
| Wed Jul 07 2004 05:46 PM |
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Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Yesterday on the main board there was some discussion about past experiences with storms. I was wondering whether anyone on this board experienced the infamous Hurricane Elena in 1985. I know that Louisiana and Mississippi see a lot of storms, and Elena was one of the stronger ones in recent years. If anyone did experience Elena, what was it like?
| LI Phil |
| (User) |
| Wed Jul 07 2004 11:52 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Frank P & Steve may have been affected, we'll have to see if they post here.
One of the more interesting tracks. I'm sure many of the residents of the west coast and panhandle of FLA were monitoring this one closely.
Here's a short article on Elena from the St. Pete Times.
Anyone out there go thru Elena? Lovta hear your stories...
LI Phil
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Fri Jul 09 2004 08:49 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Hi LI Phil,
I'm from Pascagoula, MS. Hurricane Elena was my first experience with hurricanes. My husband and I had only been married five years. We lived in our first house (apartment life before that). We sort of got concerned when Elena threatened the first time but then she turned toward Florida and I forgot all about it. Later on that weekend, we went out to dinner. When we got back in the car, we turned on the radio and the announcer said that one of the senarios possible for Elena was a U-turn back to Mississippi. I remember saying, "that sucker is gonna turn around and come back and get us." I still was not overly concerned. I had never been through a hurricane. We were transplants to the coast.
Sunday aftermoon comes and my husband and I are out mowing the lawn, weeding, and etc. We finally noticed all of the activity going on. We went inside and watched the weather bulletins. That "sucker" was coming straight for us!
Anyway, to make a long story shorter we evacuated and were safe but we were shocked when we got home. Pascagoula looked like a war zone. We were without power for a week. We had no phone for two weeks. Our first home no longer had a front porch. It was on the back patio.
I learned what hurricanes can do from a very fickle lady. And then came GEORGES! Talk about FICKLE.
So you see, I listen and watch but I don't put much stock in landfall predictions. Thought you might like to hear my Elena story. My Georges story is even more interesting. I stayed through that one -- not by choice. If you've got time I'll tell you sometime.
| James88 |
| (Weather Master) |
| Fri Jul 09 2004 08:53 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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That would be interesting. What was Georges like to experience?
| LI Phil |
| (User) |
| Fri Jul 09 2004 11:35 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Hey (Pasca)Goula Girl,
Yeah, I'd love to hear about Georges too. Hope insurance covered Elena...
As the old Miller beer ads used to say, "if you've got the time, we've got the beer." Well, I got the time...
Cheers,
LI Phil
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Sat Jul 10 2004 04:41 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I really was just kidding but since YOU asked about my Georges story. . . Here we are in a different home, and three kids later. As news of Georges spread my neighbors are all out in their yards and we start discussing the possibilities. Keep in mind that my husband works at a refinery that does not shut down unless, well you know. My neighbors were all making fun of me wanting to leave WITH my husband which was not possible. One of my neighbors was newly married when she went through Camille. She said that the area where we now lived did not even flood during Camille.
So, since everyone was saying that Sir Georges was going in near New Orleans that we would be "fine." I ironed clothes all day an into the night. Ironing is not one of my favorite pasttimes but I could iron and watch the weather reports. I finally talked myself into going to bed at about midnight. Things were still OK. Louisiana was the target that Georges had his sights set on. At around two I woke up to howling winds and driving rain. I managed to stay calm until around three. I woke my darling husband up (this was the man who also thought I was being silly.) If I was going to be afraid he was too!
Georges made landfall between Ocean Springs and Gautier which is about a fifteen minute drive from us. We had very little structural damage except for the roof but we had nine trees down in what used to be our back yard. We think tornadoes were the culprit.
I have vivid memories of trying to hide my fear as we huddled in the interior hall of my home. We moved twin mattresses into the hall for the kids (I don't know why, we didn't close our eyes.) My lesson learned from Georges was that preparation is ALWAYS best. We had not even boarded windows. The family joke now is that when my husband talks to my about plans for a hurricane "scare" that he better have a hammer in one hand and a peice of plyboard in the other. He now has peices measured and numbered for a quick fix! The weather still fascinates me but I have an real fear that comes only from experience.
That's my Georges story. I hope I don't have to add to my list of tales any time soon. Keepin' my fingers crossed.
Goula Girl
| LI Phil |
| (User) |
| Sat Jul 10 2004 03:51 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Thanks for sharing! Enjoyed the story.
LI Phil
| hurricane_run |
| (Storm Tracker) |
| Fri Aug 06 2004 07:08 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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ditto
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Sat Sep 11 2004 04:28 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I was in New Orleans over Labor Day during Hurricane Elena in 1985. I was staying at a small hotel in the French Qtr. ...I had never been through a Hurricane before and was a little scared...The Hotel set up champagne and OJ in the lobby-they brought out bags of chips and had the TV on non-stop. Mostly we sat around and drank and ate...I thought the whole thing was a little over-blown (I'm from KS and have experienced tornadoes) but it makes for a great travel story...I ventured outside periodically and just remember lots of rain and occasional gusts ofwind....
| Unregistered User |
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| Sat Sep 11 2004 06:22 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I remember that weekend well.......................was real thankful to be out west living................and now the abstract is a full in my face reality................how life can throw changes.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Tue Sep 14 2004 12:34 AM |
Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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We lived in Gautier when Elena came and i was only 11 at the time. But i remember the event very well. My father was the local Kmart manager and so we stayed at the store instead of leaving town. Actually we did leave, the first time they said it was coming, but this time we didnt. My mother's strongest recollection is of Mike Reader sounding panicky when he was telling people about the approaching storm. It was frightening to me then (now I would be more interested in what was going on outside) and I remember hearing winds tear off part of the store roof. The damage ended up being minimal compared to some of the other shopping centers near ours. Our biggest fear was the mobile home park we lived in then. Needless to say many homes were destroyed when we went back to the park. Thankfully our worst damage was a gash torn in the front of the home. Of course our porch and shed were thrashed, but it could have been much worse. My brothers and I made plenty of discoveries in the days to come around our yard.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Tue Sep 14 2004 03:51 AM |
Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Your stories are very interesting. I had never heard of Hurrican Elena until I moved to FL. I have only been here about a year. I don't know if I was even born when Elena hit (I was born August 31, 1985). I am quite interested in your take on Hurricane Ivan. Many people are afraid b/c of the damage that has already occured and the extreme winds. If Ivan hits, it will be the first hurricane I will have been in (that I can remember). Being from South-Eastern Virginia I am used to only getting the outskirts of hurricanes. I would definitely be interested in what you guys think about Ivan. Thanx
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Tue Sep 14 2004 04:28 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I was in living in Tallahassee at the time, attending FSU. I worked part-time in an office setting at night. We knew there was a "storm" coming, but had no idea what effects there might be. About 8:30 PM, I finally told the bosses I had had enough and was going home. A co-worker had already tried to drive to her home, only to turn around after encountering down powerlines & trees. She followed me to my little garage apartment and spent a sleepless night on the couch. We listened to the wind howling and debris hitting the windows all night.
The next morning the power was off. We were so completely unprepared. I went out to my car to listen to the radio and hear what was happening. Having no food in the house, I somehow made it to the grocery store and found a surreal scene. They were operating on generator power, enough to keep the cash registers going. Everyone was functioning in a dazed state.
For the next few weeks, all you could hear was chain-saws buzzing as they cut up the remanents of the fallen trees. The most impressive (and sad) sight was the 100 year old oak trees completely uprooted.
Now living in the Tampa area and having been through 2 near misses this year, I don't take anything for granted. We were prepared for Ivan, and though it appears he will not visit us, we're glad to have been ready (as ready as one can be). It's like going through a fire drill. Everytime you do it, you get better at it. You are ready for the eventual and seemingly inevitable, but continue to pray to be spared.
Thanks for letting me share!
Gulftrade
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Tue Sep 14 2004 04:43 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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LisaJ... Your exactly the same age as my son who was born 8/31/85 during Elena. We were in Brandon, my wife in the hospital, and all the Tampa Moms were evacuated from Tampa General Hosp to the Brandon hospital. Elena just sat out there in the Gulf.. looming and we waited, just like with Ivan. Only time will tell where he is to go.
| msgatorslayer |
| (Registered User) |
| Tue Sep 14 2004 10:42 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I was a pre-teen during Elena. Living in New Port Richey. Don't remember a whole lot. I was at the movie theatre with some friends, and when we where leaving, the ushers where telling us we where under evacuation orders.
My Dad picked me up. We went to my Grama's house.
I remember that Sims Park was under water and that a tornado touched down over by the Pasco County Court, wrecking on of it's newest buildings.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Wed Sep 15 2004 12:06 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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In 85 I was working at K-Mart and I know the roof would not have stood any type of winds let alone those of a hurricane..........thank gawd the store was in California.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Wed Sep 15 2004 03:00 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I will comment on this one. It has taken me a little time on google and noaa to recall the name of this hurricane.I experienced this one as a teenager in Panama City Fl. I knew it was in the 80s, and it had a very unique track.
I was probably a sophmore at Rutherford High School in Panama City when I experienced my first Hurricane, namely Elena. My parents just purchased our first "non-trailer" home in Callaway. It was a nice Brick Ranch with a shallow pitch roof. The great feature was the TWO STORY Tree house in the back yard. Actually it was more like a little house on stilts that used a Tree for a corner post. Anyway...It was "way cool"!...LOL.
We had a large sliding glass door as a rear exit, and imediately outside the door was a 24 inch thick dead tree. There were no remaining appendages on the stick, but it was at least 25 ft. high, and only 10 ft. away from the house.
What made our situation most unique was the fact that my father was the owner of our 52 ft. Shrimp Boat called the Lady Louise. This boat was my fathers buisness, and the families income. This boat was not insured either. My dad took my brother and sailed for the inter-coastal water ways to ride out the storm. Ironicaly, images of this effort made way into newspapers 20 years later, and 1600 miles north.
I and my sister weathered Elena at home with mom. We didnt board up, but we did tape all the windows.
Anyway, the storm didnt stike us directly, but we did take hurricane force winds. The storm struck at night so I could only witness things close to the house. Winds brought down the dead tree, and the treehouse. Fortuately they fell parallel to the house. My dad brought the boat home safely the following day, and all was well again. I understand Lynn Haven suffered some bad flooding, but I never witnessed it.
That storm was interesting mostly because it kept changing direction. Glad I finally figured out its name.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Wed Sep 15 2004 04:27 AM |
Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I was eleven when Elena hit. My parents and I stayed behind. The main thing I remeber about Elena, was the track it took to get here. It made a loop in the Gulf before it hit. I had one of those 3 ft above ground pools, that was common back then. It was full of water and still lifted off the ground. My father ran outside, when the eye was above our house, and parked one of our trucks on the pool. It was actually more exciting than scary. I am writing this post as Ivan his way. The latest report puts it here in 24 hrs. I decided to stick it out. They have a manditory evac going for everyone south of I-10. I am about 2 miles north of I-10. Well, I will post my experience with Ivan in the comming days.
| James88 |
| (Weather Master) |
| Wed Sep 15 2004 05:15 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Wow, some really interesting stories. Thanks for taking the time to share them!
| Timbo |
| (Registered User) |
| Wed Sep 15 2004 07:32 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Elena was a very strange storm. I lived in Ft. Walton Beach and was working for GE who had responsibility for the Eglin AFB Test Range. We had to evacuate Okaloosa Island Radar Sites which was an all night scramble and then when it went over towards Tallahassee we got the all clear and then started to take things back out to the island. Within about 4-6 hours, we got the word it was coming back towards us and we had to re-evac the island again. Winds were crazy and the waves were washed out the fishing pier on the island. That storm was nothing like Opal though!
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Fri Sep 17 2004 06:31 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I'm from Houston, TX, and I've always been fascinated with the weather, especially hurricanes.. We actually took our family vacation to Disneyworld during Elena's erratic trek over the Gulf.. I was only 7 years old at the time, and we were driving back to Houston as Elena was parked off the FL coast.. I can remember our stationwagon being pushed by the driving wind and rain on the highway; We tried to book at a Best Western, but they didn't take us... don't know if they were booked, or were themselves evacuating.. anyway, we made it safely back to Houston. I hope you guys in FL made it through Ivan ok.. Be on the lookout for Jeanne coming your way..
take care,
Frank
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Fri Sep 17 2004 08:09 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I live in South Alabama now, and just went through Ivan, but my family lived in Pascagoula, MS when Elena hit in 1985. I was a small child, but I distinctly remember how different the experience was from others. As a previous post said, we heard the hurricane was headed to Florida, so we just forgot about it. I remember my father was away from the house the day of the hurricane. When he heard the news that Elena had turned, he called mother to get us ready, and hurried home. We left our house and went to his office near downtown because it was one of the only buildings in the city that had been built to withstand hurricane force winds. We stayed on the 5th floor of the buildings, and I will never forget standing in front of the storm windows and watching the hurricane reak havoc on the city. I watched as the windows in a car in the parking lot below exploded when the pressure dropped outside. And I watched as bushes in the yard of the house across the street spontaneously uprooted and rolled down the street.
Much of the damage after Elena wasn't terribly severe. And a lot of it would have been preventable had there been the advance notice that typically comes with hurricanes. So many people were just so unprepared for Elena to turn.
Like many hurricanes, some of the most severe damage was due to rain. We lived on a culdesac that flooded and we were unable to drive to our house for days. We were forced to park on a different street and walk through the neighbors' yards to get home. This was my first experience with hurricanes, and although I've been through several more since, Elena was probably my most memorable experience.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Mon Sep 01 2008 09:12 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Training mission that weekend with Civil Air Patrol. I think (getting old) we were looking for a simulated crash of a small aircraft stuck in the trees. Anyway -- the storm was forecast to go to Miss. not to head up there and turn around back to Florida. Needless to say we packed up the tents and gear then went to work at the Red Cross shelter.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Wed Sep 03 2008 01:25 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Tons of rain!!! I did not follow the weather too close back then, like i do now, but it was a rain maker......." a frog strangler" and really windy. The kicker was that it wobbled back and forth off the coast.
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Wed Sep 03 2008 01:27 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I was a teenager and my family had just moved to Pensacola from the Midwest. It appeared to be heading toward us initially, and then turned toward St. Pete, where my grandparents, now deceased, lived. They lived right on one of the canals so they were evacauated, which they thought of as a great adventure.
While my grandparents were camping in a high school, we headed out for a fun day at Pensacola Beach. I remember it was very windy and the sand stung when it hit my skin. What a surprise when the authorities came down to the beach with bullhorns and announced that Elena had turned and was once again headed for us.
My parents are Florida natives so they weren't overly concerned, but I was scared out of my mind and stayed up all night listening to news radio. Since it was at night, I don't remember seeing much, but our power never did go out, and there wasn't a lot of debris to pick up in the yard either.
I've lived in Orlando for many years now and I thought Charley was one of the scariest things I've ever experienced, esp. since I had very young children at the time. Oh, and we had huge messes to clean up, incl. many large trees down in our neighborhood after the 2004 hurricanes. Elena in Pensacola was nothing compared to those storms. (By the way, my parents have moved back to the Midwest, where they have to contend with blizzards, not hurricanes!)
| FlaPenny |
| (Registered User) |
| Wed Sep 03 2008 02:40 PM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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Hi, all - I went through Elena while living in Mobile, AL. I remember watching Elena loop around, but knew in my gut that we were going to be hit. At the time, I was the director of 2 ICU's in one of the local hospitals there. We closed down the unit with the most window exposure, to decrease the danger to patients and staff. My office was in that area. I remember being in the hospital that night, hearing the howling of the wind and feeling that prickling sensation as the pressure fell. We had no shutters on the windows, so we could see the blue flashes as the transformers blew all around us. The hospital was right next to a canal, so we nervously watched as the water level rose (during Frederick they had 2 feet of water inside the hospital). Our end stayed dry, but the lower part closer to the front of the hospital started having some flooding and people were reporting snakes in the hallways. After the storm passed, I was in the side of the ICU we had closed, checking that all of the windows were intact. As I went toward my office, I started smelling smoke and noticed some coming out of the A/C vent in the ceiling. First time I ever had to actually activate the fire alarm!! Some wiring had gotten wet and shorted out when the generators kicked the A/C on. If I hadn't been there checking, we might have had a bigger problem on our hands!!
| Unregistered User |
| (Unregistered) |
| Tue Sep 09 2008 12:55 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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I remember Hurricane Elena well. It was a Labor Day weekend storm 1985. I live in Navarre, FL and the storm stalled of the coast of Florida so we evacuated. Then the storm went almost due East and stalled of the Coast of Tampa and beat the crap out of Tampa, FL. We came back home. Then the storm went back out into the Gulf and got stronger and kinda stalled again before going thru Biloxi, MS. We evacuated again before it went thru Biloxi. I never evacuated twice for any storm before.
| MichaelA |
| (Weather Analyst) |
| Sat Jun 25 2011 11:44 AM |
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Re: Hurricane Elena, 1985
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In Pinellas County, I spent 3 days cooped up in the house with my 3 year old daughter while my wife spent 3 days on duty at her hospital. The coastal areas really took the beating from the continuous pounding surf, but it was not much more than a three day thunderstorm for me.