"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 families�the 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 eachfamily�s torment to light in surprising clarity. The result is a rare and dignified portrait of human survival.
