The Catastrophic Effects of Hurricane Audrey
Planalytics (6/27/08) --
As one of the most catastrophic hurricanes ever recorded in U.S. history, Hurricane Audrey was responsible for massive destruction and substantial fatalities throughout Texas and Louisiana. For years, it made its mark in history as the only category four hurricane to hit land in June.
In 1957, meteorologists came across the developing hurricane on their radars, labeling it a tropical wave. As it swept across the Atlantic Ocean and into the Gulf of Mexico, Audrey grew into something much more than anticipated.
Hurricane Audrey made landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border with the intensity of a category four storm. Wind speeds reached up to 145 miles per hour and devastated up to 80% of homes in some areas.
Although
the storm weakened as it moved through the Tennessee Valley, the damage
left behind by Audrey was massive. Hurricane Audrey was responsible for
419 deaths, the homelessness of 40,000 people, and an estimated $147
million in damages. Today, these damages would amount to nearly $1.8
billion.
At the time, it was the costliest natural disaster to hit the nation since The Great New England Hurricane of 1938.
To this day, it continues to go down in history as the only category four storm to have ever hit the Atlantic Basin. After the storm, the name "Audrey" was retired as a hurricane name. It remains the only name to be retired after its first --and only-- use.
Copyright 2008 by NBC Weather Plus. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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