June 4th marked the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane season; a time of year that holds a unique interest for those who have survived one of these destructive storms. Survivors listen with heightened attention to the year’s predictions as they hope for a mild season despite what are often foreboding forecasts.

            For the 2009 hurricane season, The National Hurricane Center provides the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) prediction:

            In its initial outlook for the 2009 hurricane season, NOAA’s National Weather Service Climate Prediction  Center calls for a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season. Global weather patterns are imposing a greater uncertainty in the 2009 hurricane season outlook than in recent years. This year, The National Hurricane Service predicts an Atlantic hurricane season with between 9-14 named storms. Of that number 4-7 may be hurricanes, including one major storm of category 3 (111 m.p.h.), or larger. There is a 50% probability of a near normal season with an average of 11 named storms, with six hurricanes of which two are major.

            On September 14-15, 1995  Hurricane Marilyn hit the U.S. Virgin Islands like a speeding locomotive that once over the islands slowed down, stopped and stayed. It stayed and stayed … pummeling the islands for about 15 hours.

            While St. Croix and St. John, two of the major islands in the Virgin Islands chain, escaped the brunt of the storm, St. Thomas took a direct and sustained hit.  What had been predicted as a Category 1 storm escalated into a Category 3-4 as it crossed the 45 miles of ocean between St. Croix and St. Thomas.

            Because of the predictions of a mild storm many people didn’t make the proper preparations; many who should have been in shelters decided to stay home; many boat owners decided to stay on board their crafts; and many tourists decided to stay on the island rather than take the last flights leaving before the hurricane. For some of these people, those proved to be bad decisions. When you live in a hurricane region, the first thing you learn is that they are incredibly unpredictable.  

            Occasionally, during the long storm there were tremendous ripping sounds, similar to the sound  a gigantic zipper might make when it’s being quickly unzipped. Those were actually the sounds of multiple roofs being ripped away from their anchors … the houses.

            Most frightening though, were the sounds that would start off in the distance like a racing train. It was a sound that got increasingly closer and increasingly louder until it is a deafening, unbearable roar. Those were the sounds of tornados in the storm.

The Eye of Hurricane Marilyn

            After the storm, the island of St. Thomas bore no resemblance to its former self. Approximately 90 percent of the houses and structures on the island were damaged or totally destroyed.

            In two of the photographs below, clearly there are quite a few structures visible in the first that are    missing in the second. Many sturdy homes were completely torn from their foundations to be found in the vicinity days later totally crumpled while others – with all their contents were never seen again.

Before the Storm

After the Storm with Most of Roof Missing

Hilltop View of a Portion of Charlotte Amalie Before the Storm

After the Storm

The Aftermath of the Storm

• A naval vessel sat in the middle of Main Street in the town of Charlotte Amalie
• The storm surge left water lines in buildings in town as high as the fifth floor
• Dumpsters weighing thousands of pounds, as well as cars and trucks were found in incongruous places having been flung through the air like toys
• Almost every home that was still standing was missing its roof causing the squalls that followed the hurricane to add to the flooding of houses and buildings
• Electrical lines were strewn everywhere like tangled spaghetti making streets impassable
• Concrete foundations were often the only thing that remained of once palatial  homes.
• A landscape that was thick with foliage, trees and flowers was bare

One of many areas destroyed

Recovery

• The National Guard was able to fly onto the island a little less than 48 hours after the hurricane passed with medical staff, medical supplies, food and water
• FEMA quickly set up a workable hospital in large tents
• Hundreds of traumatized tourists who had not heeded the suggestion to leave the island before the hurricane was flown off island by the U.S. military
• All hotels were heavily damaged and closed to the public for months
• There was no electricity on the island for several months
• Telephone service wasn’t restored to some areas of the island for one year
• Tourism, the island’s main industry was non-existent for months
• For many nights after the storm the only sounds on the pitch black island were the military helicopters flying all night with search lights to discourage looting

            The announcement of the beginning of hurricane season means different things to different people, but for most survivors it almost always bring a surge of memory followed by a brief stab of fear.  Of course, if there is one lesson learned in such disasters, and one source of comfort it is that the best defense is strong faith and good preparation.

Also See:

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