Hurricane Camille

Hurricane Camille is a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast region on the 17th and 18th of August 1969.

Camille is considered the first- or second-worst storm ever to hit the mainland United States. Camille had winds in excess of 210 mph (340 km/h) and a storm surge of over 24 feet (6 m).

Camille killed 143 people along in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The storm moved inland and turned eastward. As it reached southern Virginia it unleashed torrential rains of up to 31 inches (790 mm) in some areas which killed 113 additional persons due to flash floods and landslides. 8,931 people were injured, 5,662 homes were destroyed, 13,915 homes experienced major damage. The area of total destruction in Harrison County, Mississippi alone was 68 square miles (176 km²). Total estimated cost of damage was US$1.42 billion.

Part of the death toll from Camille was due to the refusal of people along the coast to evacuate. One hurricane party was held in a beach home that wound up in the path of the eyewall as it made landfall. There was only one survivor to tell of the story of the others.