Hurricane Camille 50th Anniversary 1969 - 2019

Hurricane Camille: By the Numbers $1.4 Billion – Cost of damages; adjusted for inflation, it would have been $9.6 billion in 2019 dollars. 900 mb – In terms of pressure, Camille is the 2nd most intense hurricane to make landfall in the US (most intense was 1935 Labor Day Hurricane – 892mb) 259 – Number of fatalities which occurred in association with Camille. 143 of these occurred along the coasts of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama 172 mph – Estimated maximum sustained winds at landfall; All anemometers on the MS coast failed during landfall 22.6 ft – Maximum storm surge, measured at Pass Christian The intensity of Camille was reanalyzed, with the pressure being revised down from 909 mb and the wind speed being revised down from 190 mph.

Hurricane Camille: Timeline Loses Tropical Status: August 22nd – Morning Landfall: August 17th – 11 PM Hurricane: August 15th – Early Morning Developed: August 13th - Evening

Hurricane Camille: An Evolving Forecast Hurricane forecasting has come a long way since 1969! 2 ½ days before landfall: No forecast landfall location 2 days before: Forecast landfall in Eastern Gulf 1 day, 18 hours before: Hurricane Watch posted from Biloxi eastward to St Marks, FL; forecast to move toward the FL Panhandle 1 ½ days before: Hurricane Warning posted for NW Florida coast; Still no watch for West MS Coast 1 day before: Advisory headline 5 AM, morning of: Hurricane Warning west to Biloxi 14 hours before: Warning issued for landfall location

Hurricane Camille: Radar Loop

Hurricane Camille: Damage Pictures

Inspiring the Creation of a Scale Hurricane Camille: Inspiring the Creation of a Scale There were no hurricane categories in 1969. After Camille, an engineer named Herbert Saffir surveyed the damage on the MS coast, inspiring him to write a letter to the National Hurricane Center director at the time, Dr. Robert Simpson. A few years later, the two created the Saffir-Simpson scale It was introduced to the public in 1973

The Forgotten Disaster Hurricane Camille: The Forgotten Disaster After moving inland, Camille dumped 10 to 30” of rain in parts of Virginia. These extreme rains resulted in massive mudslides and occurred with little or no warning 153 lives were lost – a higher total than fatalities along the Gulf Coast

Hurricane Camille: MS Coast Then vs Now Population density is increasing along the Mississippi coast, increasing vulnerable populations, infrastructure 2017 Population Density 1980 Population Density

Bill Parker - NWS Jackson Questions? Bill Parker - NWS Jackson Bill.Parker@noaa.gov www.weather.gov/jan