I was stationed at Kessler A.F.B., Biloxi, MS. I spent the night in a
tech school building. It was cinder block two story with no windows except
in the first floor doors. The south-facing wall on the 2nd floor had double
pushbar doors where large heavy equipment was brought in. Both doors had
been opened and towels(?) held around the doors while forced shut. The rain
still came through. Within a foot or so of the doors you stood no chance to
light a match. The sound through the ventilation was amazing. It was like a
train. Of course it varied from minute to minute, but it was overwhelming.
Often it would require shouting just to converse.
As I recall when the local radio station went off the air the wind was a
sustained 120mph on the base. This radio station was on the first floor of a
motel located on the beach side of the two-lane highway running along the
Gulf. The entire first floor, except for the building supports, was wiped
clean. Yes, the building did stand, but it was in the minority.
After being allowed to leave my wife & I drove to Gulfport some 50(?)
miles to the west. The inside lane of afore mentioned highway was passable
although barely in spots. Gulfport looked like it was a war zone. Many
buildings were just shells. It just took our breath away.
While traveling to & from Biloxi it was easy to see where houses we
some foundations or parts thereof were visible. It looked like a giant angry
hand swiped the area. One & two story buildings didn't stand a chance.
One other thing I remember. Along the beach were dead animals: cows,
horses. I have no idea where they came from. Hopefully someone can supply
the answer.
It was a horrible thing to have happened. As a weather person, though,
I was glad to have experienced it.

Regards,
Wayne Roop
Cooperative Weather Observer, N.W.S.
Cape May 2NW, NJ(28-1351-3)

"Luke Outtavindo" wrote in message
.. .
Anybody have any personal stories of this incredible storm?

Be my guest!

Wayne R.
"Luke Outtavindo" wrote in message
...
Wow! You were all too close Wayne...

I thank you as well as Mark for your stories on Camille.

Do either of you mind if I post these on my message board?
{http://www.instantmessageboards.com/viewforum.php?f=9311}

Thanx again.

Bo


Wayne Roop volunteered:

I was stationed at Kessler A.F.B., Biloxi, MS. I spent the night in
a
tech school building. It was cinder block two story with no windows
except in the first floor doors. The south-facing wall on the 2nd floor
had double pushbar doors where large heavy equipment was brought in.
Both doors had been opened and towels(?) held around the doors while
forced shut. The rain still came through. Within a foot or so of the
doors you stood no chance to light a match. The sound through the
ventilation was amazing. It was like a train. Of course it varied from
minute to minute, but it was overwhelming. Often it would require
shouting just to converse.
As I recall when the local radio station went off the air the wind
was a
sustained 120mph on the base. This radio station was on the first floor
of a motel located on the beach side of the two-lane highway running
along the Gulf. The entire first floor, except for the building
supports, was wiped clean. Yes, the building did stand, but it was in
the minority.
After being allowed to leave my wife & I drove to Gulfport some
50(?)
miles to the west. The inside lane of afore mentioned highway was
passable although barely in spots. Gulfport looked like it was a war
zone. Many buildings were just shells. It just took our breath away.
While traveling to & from Biloxi it was easy to see where houses
we
some foundations or parts thereof were visible. It looked like a giant
angry hand swiped the area. One & two story buildings didn't stand a
chance.
One other thing I remember. Along the beach were dead animals: cows,
horses. I have no idea where they came from. Hopefully someone can
supply the answer.
It was a horrible thing to have happened. As a weather person,
though,
I was glad to have experienced it.

Regards,
Wayne Roop
Cooperative Weather Observer, N.W.S.
Cape May 2NW, NJ(28-1351-3)

"Luke Outtavindo" wrote in message
.. .
Anybody have any personal stories of this incredible storm?

I was glad to have experienced it.

thats like saying "I'm glad I got herpes"

"Luke Outtavindo" wrote in message
...
Wow! You were all too close Wayne...

I thank you as well as Mark for your stories on Camille.

Do either of you mind if I post these on my message board?
{http://www.instantmessageboards.com/viewforum.php?f=9311}

Thanx again.

Bo


Wayne Roop volunteered:

I was stationed at Kessler A.F.B., Biloxi, MS. I spent the night in
a
tech school building. It was cinder block two story with no windows
except in the first floor doors. The south-facing wall on the 2nd floor
had double pushbar doors where large heavy equipment was brought in.
Both doors had been opened and towels(?) held around the doors while
forced shut. The rain still came through. Within a foot or so of the
doors you stood no chance to light a match. The sound through the
ventilation was amazing. It was like a train. Of course it varied from
minute to minute, but it was overwhelming. Often it would require
shouting just to converse.
As I recall when the local radio station went off the air the wind
was a
sustained 120mph on the base. This radio station was on the first floor
of a motel located on the beach side of the two-lane highway running
along the Gulf. The entire first floor, except for the building
supports, was wiped clean. Yes, the building did stand, but it was in
the minority.
After being allowed to leave my wife & I drove to Gulfport some
50(?)
miles to the west. The inside lane of afore mentioned highway was
passable although barely in spots. Gulfport looked like it was a war
zone. Many buildings were just shells. It just took our breath away.
While traveling to & from Biloxi it was easy to see where houses
we
some foundations or parts thereof were visible. It looked like a giant
angry hand swiped the area. One & two story buildings didn't stand a
chance.
One other thing I remember. Along the beach were dead animals: cows,
horses. I have no idea where they came from. Hopefully someone can
supply the answer.
It was a horrible thing to have happened. As a weather person,
though,
I was glad to have experienced it.

Regards,
Wayne Roop
Cooperative Weather Observer, N.W.S.
Cape May 2NW, NJ(28-1351-3)

"Luke Outtavindo" wrote in message
.. .
Anybody have any personal stories of this incredible storm?

Wayne,

In August 1971 Typhoon ROSE literally took a direct hit at Hong Kong in the
evening hours. I was there and on the sixteenth floor of the apartment
building (even though it was designed to withstand 250 km/h winds) the
building literally swayed an inch at a time and the blown rain was so
intense I couldn't see 20 feet beyond the building!! (eek!)

The winds--which reached over 150 knots--was strong enough that the aircraft
navigation warning lights were damaged on top of our apartment building. I
remember the next morning going up to the roof and finding the twisted
remains of the navigation light tower--it looked UGLY. Good thing it was
replaced within a few days (under threat from the Hong Kong airport
authorities, since back in those days airliners flew fairly close to our
apartment on their way to land at Kai Tak Airport).

--
Raymond Chuang
Mountain View, CA USA