Hurricane Elena, 1985, by Ashley Wroten

From MemoryArchive

Who: Ashley Wroten
What: Hurricane Elena
Where: Clearwater, Florida
When: 1985

When I was very young and living in Florida, Hurricane Hurricane Elena ravaged the Gulf Coast. Everyone in my hometown of Clearwater had been glued to our TV’s when the tropical depression first developed in the Gulf. But, every meteorologist had a projected path that took the hurricane up through Mississippi or Alabama. Once the storm had moved north to the same latitude as Clearwater, most people lost interest in Elena.

Since my dad is a pilot, my family constantly watches the weather channel to see what he will encounter in his upcoming flights. One evening, my mom and I were tuned in, and noticed that the storm was making a 90 degree turn to head straight for the Florida coast. We turned on the radio to find out that the evacuation plan was in effect and that we should start preparing our homes for a direct hit.

My dad, a pilot, was away on a trip--lucky for him, unlucky for my mother who was stuck trying to evacuate with a young child! We packed our bags and headed off to a nearby elementary school that was serving as a shelter for evacuees. We set up camp in the large school along with thousands of other folks. I made many "friends" by wandering around and talking to complete strangers. I guess little kids lack the perspective and understanding about this type of situation, because I was in heaven. So many new people to talk to! The following day we were able to return home. There was, of course, lots of debris, but our home survived and the adventure thus ended.

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External Links:

National Hurricane Center

Photos of Hurricane Elena