The State of Alabama suffered its worst natural
disaster in history, when Hurricane Frederic came
ashore in September 1979. Alabama had not seen
a storm of Frederic's intensity since 1916. Thousands
suffered unprecedented damage. By 1979 Gulf Shores,
Alabama, had developed into a popular resort area,
with hundreds of motel rooms and thousands of
luxury homes and condominiums. Much of this new
development had never been tested in a severe
hurricane. Until Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Frederic
was the most costly hurricane in American history
($2.3 billion). Over the last 50 years (1950
- 2001) only two hurricanes have made landfall
along the Gulf coast with stronger winds than
Frederic: Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane
Carla (1961).
Hurricane
Frederic originated from an area of disturbed
weather in the far eastern Atlantic. By September
1st, 1979, Frederic was upgraded to a minimal
hurricane about 650 miles east of the Lesser Antilles,
while moving west at 20 mph. Over the next six
days - Frederic traveled over the islands of the
northern Caribbean weakening to a tropical depression
by September 6. However, as the weak depression
emerged off the western tip of Cuba, it rapidly
intensified. By September 11, winds in Frederic
were up to 85 mph, while the storm was moving
northwest - toward the central Gulf coast.
By
5:00 am the following morning (September 12) warnings
were issued from Panama City, Florida to New Orleans,
Louisiana. Frederic now had winds of 130 mph,
central pressure in the hurricane had fallen to
27.99 in (948 mb). By
5:00 pm that same day, Frederic was located 80
miles south of Mobile, Alabama, moving north at
15 mph. Like several other severe hurricanes Frederic
would landfall in darkness, adding to evacuation
and preparedness problems.
At
10:00 pm (CDT) on September 12, 1979, Hurricane
Frederic made landfall with sustained winds
of 130 mph, and a central pressure of 27.94
(946 mb). Frederic hammered southern Alabama
with the severest hurricane conditions in modern
times. Although far less intense than Camille
in 1969, Frederic was twice the size, hurricane
force winds covered a vast area. By 7:00 am the
next morning Frederic was downgraded to a tropical
storm near Meridian, Mississippi, spreading torrential
rain and high winds across the region.
Hurricane Frederic approaching the Alabama coast
on September 12, 1979 with 130 mph winds. (Photo
courtesy NOAA/1979).
METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS
NOAA
Hurricane Hunter Aircraft reported Frederic had
sustained winds of about 130 mph, with gusts
to 150 mph, just prior to landfall on the
Alabama coast. Several extreme wind reports were
received in southern Alabama and Mississippi.
The National Weather Service office at Ingalls
Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi recorded wind
gusts to 127 mph. The Mobile County Civil Defense
office recorded a peak gust of 101 mph. The most
extreme winds recorded came from exposed Dauphin
Island, off the Alabama coast. The Dauphin Island
Sea Lab recorded gusts to 137 mph before equipment
failure. The strongest gust measured in Frederic
was recorded on the Dauphin Island Bridge - 145
mph.
The Office of Civil
Defense in Pascagoula, Mississippi recorded a
low pressure of 27.94 inches (946 mb).
Although 27.94 inches is considered the
official landfalling pressure in Frederic, the
Dauphin Island Sea Lab reconstructed a microbarograph
recording they made during the storm, and extrapolated
that barometric pressure had fallen to 27.84 inches
(943 mb). The National Weather Service Office
in Mobile recorded a barometric pressure of 28.38
in (961 mb).
Frederic's surge
over the Alabama barrier Islands was of epic proportions.
Although storm surge damage was reported along
80 miles of coastline, Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores
were by far hit the hardest. Gulf Shores found
itself just to the east of the eyewall - the area
of maximum ocean surges. The resulting property
damage from Fort Morgan (from Navy Cove) to just
east of Gulf Shores (near Shelby Lakes) was nearly
complete. The morning after the hurricane, Gulf
Shores looked as if a tidal wave had swept over
the island.
Although
elevated to 9 feet above sea level - this U shaped
condominium complex in Gulf Shores, Alabama, was
leveled by Frederic's 15 foot storm surge. (Photo
courtesy UACE/1979).
The
morning after Frederic, Gulf Shores, Alabama (above)
looked as if a great tidal wave had swept over
the island. (Photo courtesy UACE/1979).
Tidal surges along
the coast to the right of the eye ranged from
9 to 15 feet above mean sea level (msl).
A higher water mark was measured at 15.79 feet
above m.s.l., at the Gulf State Park Building,
Gulf Shores, Alabama. On
Gulf Shores, 80 % of the structures were completely
destroyed, (400 buildings). This
was somewhat of a shock to many residents, since
many of these structures were built on pilings
8 or 9 feet above sea level. This had been part
of a new construction standard. On Dauphin
Island, storm surge heights of 8 to 13 feet were
recorded, with the western end of Dauphin Island
completely over-topped at the height of the storm
surge. In Mobile Bay, high water marks of 8 to
10 feet above m.s.l., damaged areas along highway
90 and 98.
Hurricane Frederic
produced severe wind damage in many areas across
southern Alabama. On the barrier islands, extensive
structural failure occurred, with most buildings
in the immediate landfall area - having 50% or
greater roof damage. No buildings seemed immune,
industrial buildings, residential homes, hospitals,
even government buildings suffered heavy wind
damage. Many small beach homes along the immediate
shore blew away before they could be flooded by
the devastating storm surge.
Even
the historic Mobile City Hall suffered during
Frederic's rampage through Alabama. (Photo courtesy
Alabama National Guard /1979).
Port
buildings like these at the Pascagoula, Mississippi
City Docks suffered extensive wind damage. (Photo
courtesy CNA/1979).
Pine
trees snapped in half - littered the landscape
across southern Alabama after Hurricane Frederic
in September 1979. (Photo courtesy CNA/1979).
The
two-lane Dauphin Island Causeway connecting Dauphin
Island and the mainland was swept away in several
areas. The tower on the bridge in the upper left
of photo, recorded a 145 mph gust during Frederic.
(Photo courtesy CNA/1979).
Unfortunately, five
people were killed during Frederic. Considering
the hurricanes intensity - this was remarkably
low. Frederic produced the largest evacuation
in the history of the Gulf coast up to that time
- 500,000 people. Although Frederic was not nearly
as intense as Camille, population and commercial
development had doubled. Property damage was the
largest for any natural disaster in American
history up to that time- $2.3 Billion in 1979
dollars. The insurance industry paid out
a record $752 million, until Hugo in 1989.
