Parish is that Houma is only 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
This means that if a Hurricane strikes the South Terrebonne
Coast, or even east of Terrebonne, or west of Terrebonne,
Houma is end for a wild wet and windy ride.
There is not much of a buffer zone south of Houma, but it
sometimes helps some. If people listen to the Authorities
and use their heads, they will do alright. You can judge
sometimes when to stay and ride the storm out, and when to
get the hell out of dodge. Though it is usually always
best to leave when the evacuation order is given even if
it is Catagory 3. Cats. 1 and 2, well use your head and
listen to what the Authorities are advising.
bring high winds and waters causing death and damage before
subduing their force over more solid terrains to the north.
The most notable came in August 1856 when a large, two-story
hotel and many vacation cottages for aristocratic southerners
existed on Last Island. It was a hot and balmy Sunday morning with
a light rain falling. The wind began to pick up as the day wore on
and by mid-afternoon, it had become intense. Between 4:30pm and 5pm,
the tidal wave hit and carried with it most of the buildings on the
Island. Many of the 400 inhabitants were washed out into the Gulf and
some returned on afloat on logs.
A total of 150 people were killed that day and Last Island lost its
idenity as the playground of South Louisiana. The island is now cut
into several sections and erosion of what remains has been rapid in
recent years.
Efforts have begun to provide protective structures there and on other
barrier islands that will preserve them for hurricane protection and
recreation.
Two other hurricances of special note occurred in 1909 and 1926. Many people
were killed and others left homeless as the waters and winds destroyed most of
what improvements existed at the time in South Terrebonne.
Early detection of tropical waves and storms by the U.S. Weather Bureau when they
are well out at sea has all but eliminated the suprise element of hurricanes,
which is the main cause of death and injury. Though hurricanes have struck the
coast of Terrobonne and nearby in recent years, no deaths have been reported
because of ample notice has been given for evacuation of the low-lying areas.
The most brutal of the modern-day hurricanes, Betsy in 1965 left millions of
dollars in damages and a clean-up jog of the first magnitude.
Terrebonne has had other hurricanes strike, but most did minimal to moderate
damages. Hilda, Audrey, in the late 50's and into the 60's. Also more
present day, a few years ago in the mid 80's Hurricane Juan hit Terrebonne,
but that one was more water than anything. In 1992 Hurricane Andrew Struck
parts of South Terrebonne when it hit the Louisiana Coastline causing damages
and floods. In the Early 2000's Hurricanes Isadore and Lily struck a week
apart, but caused minimal to mod. damages in the area.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Southeast Louisiana Coast devastating
The Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Coast and Flooded New Orleans, LA. In
October, just about a month later Hurricane Rita passed south of Louisiana into
Southwest Louisiana and Texas causing flooding in the lower bayou country of
Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.
when they came through. I was five years old when Hurricane Betsy came through.
Hurricane Cammell struck the Mississippi Coast in 1969, but Terrebonne Parish
only got the winds from her west side of the storm.
The people here in Houma, well most ride it out if it is a Catagory 3 or low 4.
the lower bayou country are evacuated to Houma in Storm shelters or they leave
for higher ground with family or friends out of state or up in North Louisiana.
And then, some of the older people will ride it out in bayou country still.