165 and 169 years ago today Major Hurricanes hit Louisiana and Mississippi coasts

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On August 10, 1856, a severe hurricane struck the Louisiana coast, cutting a channel through Last Island (Isle Dernière) and destroying the resort there. The storm was first detected near the Dry Tortugas the day before. It crossed the Gulf of America and rapidly gained strength. There were no measurements of the wind, but some have estimated them to be near 150 mph (240 km/hr). 183 people perished in ships at sea as the storm swept up the Gulf.

There was little warning of the approaching storm, but once it became apparent, many vacationers on Last Island wanted to leave. However, the only means off the island was by ferry ship, which ran a regular route between Last Island and New Orleans. To allay the fears of the waiting guests, the owners of the main hotel on the island opened up the ballroom for music and dancing. Meanwhile, the ferry ship Star was blown off course, and only arrived at Last Island at the height of the storm. It became beached and could only rescue people swept off shore. The eye moved over the island, and its storm surge completely inundated the resort, destroying the hotel and associated vacation cottages. 198 of the 401 people at the resort were killed. The island remained underwater for several days and when the waters receded a channel carved by the storm surge had split Last Island in two.

The hurricane continued inland, demolishing Abeville and inundating New Orleans with heavy rainfall. An additional 200 people died on mainland Louisiana. News of the disaster at the resort spread once survivors were able to reach New Orleans by bateaux. It was a shock to the nation, as some of the cream of Louisiana society were among the dead. The story of the storm became iconic for generations of the destruction of hurricanes and inspired Lafcadio Hearn to write the novel “Chita: A Memory of Last Island” in 1889.

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August 10-12th, 1856: Hurricane strikes Isle Dernieres, Last Island, a pleasure resort southsouthwest of New Orleans. The highest points were under five feet of water. The resort hotel was destroyed, along with the island’s gambling establishments. The steamer Nautilus foundered during the storm. The lone survivor clung to a bale of cotton and washed ashore sometime later.
Every house in the town of Abbeville was leveled. Rain from the storm flooded the Mermentau River and destroyed crops along bottom lands. Area rice fields in Plaquemines parish went under several feet of salt water. Nearly all rice was lost to the storm. Orange trees were stripped of their fruit. The rain total at New Orleans reached 13.14". In Lake Charles,it rained most of the day on the 12th.

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1860: Number 1 on August 11th: On the fourth anniversary of the Last Island Disaster,
another hurricane made landfall across southeast Louisiana. A twelve foot storm surge inundated the Mississippi Delta (Landsea, personal communication). The old site of Proctorville (now Yscloskey) had hardly a house that remained standing and its lighthouse was leveled. The lighthouse at Bayou St. John was destroyed. The light keeper’s dwelling was demolished, and the Cat Island tower was devastated. Cat Island was inundated, causing 300 cows to drown. The Mississippi rose three feet during the storm. Storm surges were seen eastward along the entire Mississippi shore. The sugar cane crop laid in ruin. Trees were uprooted in Plaquemines parish at the Balize (Pilottown). Up to ten feet of water invaded from the Gulf. Crops of rice and corn were entirely ruined. The influence of the storm extended eastward to Pensacola, where it rained 3.03" and a strong gale ensued on the 11th. Over 47 people died...damages totaled $260,000 (equivalent of at least $10 million today).

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