40th Anniversary of Hurricane Camille

Biloxi Hurricane Katrina 40 years ago today Camille made landfall along the Gulf Coast.

by Chad Petri

Published: Mon, August 17, 2009 - 6:07 am CST Last Updated: Wed, August 12, 2009 - 4:27 pm CST

Leafing through old storm mementos, former National Guardsman Glenn Ryan says he remembers a scary couple of hours caught in a boat during Camille.

“I knew we were going into the Biloxi bay they next thing we were worried about was how were we going to get across that railroad bridge and what was going to happen when we hit it at full speed,” says Ryan. Members of 138th Transportation Battalion were deployed across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Glenn says members spent the storm rescuing 251 people from rooftops

“We had 21 soldiers and commendation medals which were the largest number ever presented in peacetime to a National Guard unit,” says former Guardsman Tommy Munroe. Locals say the city built back fast.

“Built back like they were, where they were before which we're trying not to do that now we're trying to get people to build back in a safer and stronger way,” says Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway.
No matter the record set at the time, people who lived through Camille say they don't compare to Hurricane Katrina.

“We thought Camille was the mother of all storms, but then we found out storms don't have mothers because Katrina was far worse than Camille,” says restaurant manager Bob Mahoney.
Camille made landfall at night. That made it potentially more dangerous than one that hits during the day.

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carl Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Camille was like a giant tornado with gusts well over 200 mph and I remember one fellow off of one of those beached ships saying he saw a reading of 230 mph before their wind measuring tool broke.Katrina was like a tsunami for the gulf coast.Never seen water come in as fast and as far as katrina pushed it and believe me it wasn’t nice trying to sleep in the water that first night.

BamaBob Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 12:43 pm

Camille did damage all along its path until it finally went out into the Atlantic. The flooding in Virginia killed 113 people. One mean storm!

ickthus Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 12:34 pm

Camille was a high wind storm. To compare it to other hurricanes is something you need look at from many factors or you can’t see what you’re dealing with. this is why they are looking into changing the scale. things like; wind speed, storm surge, mass (miles across the eye wall= miles across the storm) direction of movement(is it backing the gulf stream up?) Camille’s winds were far more damaging than Katrina. Camille did more damage inland and unless you’re a nut job, inland is where you want to be not on the coastal tidal area’s where “water” will get you. I have been in or helped clean up every major hurricane starting with Camille. Each hurricane is different and is not clear as to how different until it is to late or over. (That’s why you give them woman’s names)

Sirk Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 12:32 pm

I was 8 months old when that storm came through so naturally I don’t remember it, but I guarantee you my mother did.

jlb1198 Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 9:13 am

My Momma was born during Camille, today is her 40th birthday!!

JOESPKN Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 7:58 am

Remember that night all to well, and the days that followed, and the trailers that were escorted through Mobile 25 to 30 at a time all day long for weeks.

BamaBob Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 7:09 am

Remember that night well….....

claycitymadness Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 6:59 am

night time storms bite. you cant see whats happening, and the winds are still up most of the day so power crews and rescue crews have to wait 24 hours or so for the winds to die down and it to be light and begin working. one of the reasons for all the katrina mess, the winds were to high when daylight hit to launch the helo’s everyone wanted right away. (Not to mention the winds were keeping the water in the bays ind inlets) hoping for NO landafall this year. remember the first 72 hours you are on your own. we have known it for years, but there is a crowd who now expects immediate relief.