Hurricane Audrey: The Deadly Storm of 1957

Post, Cathy Cagle

Apr 2007 · Pelican Publishing

About this ebook

"After the State of Louisiana and her people faced two killer hurricanes (three weeks apart) in 2005, reading this book raised the level of appreciation for the people of the Gulf Coast, their love for each other, their land, their culture, their faith, and their strength!" --Sen. Willie L. Mount (LA) In June 1957, Hurricane Audrey formed deep in the Gulf of Mexico in the Bay of Campeche, 460 miles south of Cameron Parish, Louisiana. It took direct aim at the small towns along this coast, moving due north for four days. The coastal communities of southwest Louisiana were poised to evacuate, but then something went horribly wrong, resulting in a massive death toll.

This is an historical account, the memoirs of several familiesï¿1/2the Griffith, Clark, Bartie, Marshall, Cagle, and Broussard clans. Each of the families struggled for survival in different settings. Some took refuge in their attics, others in trees or on rafts that were once floors, walls, or rooftops. Exposed to the elements, they soon realized that the hurricane was but one enemy; the creaturesof the swamp were yet another.

Hurricane Audrey left three generations emotionally scarred, and only now, decades later, are they able to talk about their terrifying ordeal. Years of research and meticulous attention to detail during interviews with survivors bring each
familyï¿1/2s torment to light in surprising clarity. The result is a rare and dignified portrait of human survival.

Ratings and reviews

Cathy Post's story of Hurricane Audrey is among the most gripping I've ever read. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Audrey was one of the most devastating and tragic hurricanes in US history, yet it has received little attention outside the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast region. I was an 11 year old resident of near-by Port Arthur, Texas at the time. Although we were little affected directly, because of our proximity, as well as close family and cultural ties, we were all too aware of the tragedy and sheer horror of what happened to the people of SW Louisiana. The events of that day in June 1957 have never left my mind even after more than 50 years. Ms. Post's re-telling is so graphic, yet respectful, at times I had to stop reading to compose myself. She is to be congratulated for writing such a compelling book that re-lives an event that few today were alive to witness. J.Edward de Steiguer. Tucson, AZ

the real ordeals and aftermaths of a hurricane that many do not know about,once you start reading this book you wont be able to stop,and could actually be right along side the survivors struggling through their live threatening ordeals

About the author

Cathy Post is a graduate of McNeese Sate University, a retired high school and kindergarten teacher, and a former legal secretary for the district attorney and Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles, Louisiana. A native of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, Mrs. Post and her husband now live in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her family is one of the six chronicled in this true account.