[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17649]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE AUDREY

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, June 27, 2007, marks the 50th 
anniversary of Hurricane Audrey, which ravaged Cameron Parish in 
southwest Louisiana. It was the deadliest storm our Nation had ever 
experienced until Hurricane Katrina came ashore in 2005.
  Hurricane Audrey was a hurricane like no one had ever seen before in 
south Louisiana. Some residents rode out the fierce category 4 storm in 
the Cameron Parish Courthouse, where a memorial service was held today. 
More than 400 lives were lost--men, women and children.
  Don Kingery describes the wrath of Hurricane Audrey in today's Lake 
Charles American Press:

       Cameron Parish residents swam, clung, gasped and prayed. 
     Those who reached cheniers--ridges slightly higher than the 
     surrounding marshes found fear-crazed water moccasins and 
     wild marsh animals snapping and striking at each other and at 
     humans.

  But the people of Cameron Parish and southwest Louisiana are 
resilient. We rebuilt our homes, our schools, our churches, our 
communities.
  In September 2005, Hurricane Rita, the third worst hurricane our 
nation has ever seen, struck this same coast. Once again, the people of 
Cameron have shown unbelievable resilience--again, returning to their 
homes and rebuilding, literally, from the ground up. The Cameron 
Courthouse again managed to survive a devastating hurricane and truly 
became a symbol of strength and hope for the Parish. Every Cameron 
resident who suffered through Rita is linked by family and community to 
Audrey's survivors and victims.
  Today is an opportunity to look back and remember Audrey and the 
lives lost, but also to look forward to a better, more vibrant 
community in the years ahead. At the Cameron Courthouse today, 
survivors shared with the younger generation their many vivid stories. 
We will take these stories and lessons from Audrey, learn from them and 
grow from them.
  Today, I want the Senate to recognize the National Guard, Civil Air 
Patrol and American Red Cross, all of which worked so bravely 50 years 
ago in the wake of Hurricane Audrey, helping to bring Cameron Parish 
back to its feet.
  I would also like to recognize BG Robert LeBlanc, who spoke at the 
memorial service in Cameron today. He formed the first Louisiana 
National Guard unit in Abbeville. In the aftermath of Audrey, he helped 
command the evacuation. He is now the Vermillion Parish director of 
homeland security and emergency preparedness and was recently inducted 
into the Louisiana National Guard Hall of Fame.
  For the record, I want to honor Cameron Parish President Darryl 
Farque and Sheriff Theos Duhon as well as their 1957 counterparts: 
Parish President Eraste Hebert and Sheriff O.B. Carter.
  Nola Mae Ross and Cathy Post also deserve recognition today, as their 
books on Hurricane Audrey will ensure future generations will never 
forget that fateful June day in 1957.

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