FacetoFacewithHurricaneCamilleJosephP.Blank-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1JohnKoshak,Jr.,knewthatHurricaneCamillewouldbebad.RadioandtelevisionwarningshadsoundedthroughoutthatSunday,lastAugust17,asCamillelashednorthwestwardacrosstheGulfofMexico.ItwascertaintopummelGulfport,Miss.,wheretheKosherslived.AlongthecoastsofLouisiana,MississippiandAlabama,nearly150,000peoplefledinlandtosafer8round.But,likethousandsofothersinthecoastalcommunities,johnwasreluctanttoabandonhishomeunlessthefamily--hiswife,Janis,andtheirsevenchildren,abed3to11--wasclearlyendangered. 2Tryingtoreasonoutthebestcourseofaction,hetalkedwithhisfatherandmother,whohadmovedintotheten-roomhousewiththeKoshaksamonthearlierfromCalifornia.HealsoconsultedCharlesHill,alongtimefriend,whohaddrivenfromLasVegasforavisit. 3John,37--whosebusinesswasrightthereinhishome(hedesignedanddevelopededucationaltoysandsupplies,andallofMagnaProducts'correspondence,engineeringdrawingsandartworkwerethereonthefirstfloor)--wasfamiliarwiththepowerofahurricane.Fouryearsearlier,HurricaneBetsyhaddemolishedundefinedhisformerhomeafewmileswestofGulfport(Koshakhadmovedhisfamilytoamotelforthenight).Butthathousehadstoodonlyafewfeetabovesealevel."We'reelevated2afeet,"hetoldhisfather,"andwe'reagood250yardsfromthesea.Theplacehasbeenheresince1915,andnohurricanehaseverbotheredit.We'IIprobablybeassafehereasanyplaceelse." 4TheelderKoshak,agruff,warmheartedexpertmachinistof67,agreed."Wecanbattendownandrideitout,"hesaid."Ifweseesignsofdanger,wecangetoutbeforedark." 5Themenmethodicallypreparedforthehurricane.Sincewatermainsmightbedamaged,theyfilledbathtubsandpails.Apowerfailurewaslikely,sotheycheckedoutbatteriesfortheportableradioandflashlights,andfuelforthelantern.John'sfathermovedasmallgeneratorintothedownstairshallway,wiredseverallightbulbstoitandpreparedaconnectiontotherefrigerator. 6Rainfellsteadilythatafternoon;graycloudsscuddedinfromtheGulfontherisingwind.Thefamilyhadanearlysupper.Aneighbor,whosehusbandwasinVietnam,askedifsheandhertwochildrencouldsitoutthestormwiththeKoshaks.Anotherneighborcamebyonhiswayin-land—wouldtheKoshaksmindtakingcareofhisdog? 7Itgrewdarkbeforeseveno'clock.Windandrainnowwhippedthehouse.Johnsenthisoldestsonanddaughterupstairstobringdownmattressesandpillowsfortheyoungerchildren.Hewantedtokeepthegrouptogetherononefloor."Stayawayfromthewindows,"hewarned,concernedaboutglassflyingfromstorm-shatteredpanes.Asthewindmountedtoaroar,thehousebeganleaking-therainseeminglydrivenrightthroughthewalls.Withmops,towels,potsandbucketstheKoshaksbeganastruggleagainsttherapidlyspreadingwater.At8:30,powerfailed,andPopKoshakturnedonthegenerator. 8Theroarofthehurricanenowwasoverwhelming.Thehouseshook,andtheceilinginthelivingroomwasfallingpiecebypiece.TheFrenchdoorsinanupstairsroomblewinwithanexplosivesound,andthegroupheardgun-likereportsasotherupstairswindowsdisintegrated.Waterroseabovetheirankles. 9Thenthefrontdoorstartedtobreakawayfromitsframe.JohnandCharlieputtheirshouldersagainstit,butablastofwaterhitthehouse,flingingopenthedoorandshovingthemdownthehall.Thegeneratorwasdoused,andthelightswentout.CharlielickedhislipsandshoutedtoJohn."Ithinkwe'reinrealtrouble.Thatwatertastedsalty."Theseahadreachedthehouse,andthewaterwasrisingbytheminute! 10"Everybodyoutthebackdoortotheoars!"Johnyelled."We'IIpassthechildrenalongbetweenus.Countthem!Nine!" 11Thechildrenwentfromadulttoadultlikebucketsinafirebrigade.Butthecarswouldn'tstart;theelectricalsystemshadbeenkilledbywater.ThewindwastooStrongandthewatertoodeeptofleeonfoot."Backtothehouse!"johnyelled."Countthechildren!Countnine!" 12Astheyscrambledback,johnordered,"Every-bodyonthestairs!"Frightened,breathlessandwet,thegroupsettledonthestairs,whichwereprotectedbytwointeriorwalls.Thechildrenputtheoat,Spooky,andaboxwithherfourkittensonthelanding.Shepeerednervouslyatherlitter.Theneighbor'sdogcurledupandwenttosleep. 13Thewindsoundedliketheroarofatrainpassingafewyardsaway.Thehouseshudderedandshiftedonitsfoundations.Waterincheditswayupthestepsasfirst-flooroutsidewallscollapsed.Noonespoke.Everyoneknewtherewasnoescape;theywouldliveordieinthehouse. 14CharlieHillhadmoreorlesstakenresponsibilityfortheneighborandhertwochildren.Themotherwasonthevergeofpanic.Sheclutchedhisarmandkeptrepeating,"Ican'tswim,Ican'tswim." 15"Youwon'thaveto,"hetoldher,withoutwardcalm."It'sboundtoendsoon." 16GrandmotherKoshakreachedanarmaroundherhusband'sshoulderandputhermouthclosetohisear."Pop,"shesaid,"Iloveyou."Heturnedhisheadandanswered,"Iloveyou"--andhisvoicelackeditsusualgruffness. 17Johnwatchedthewaterlapatthesteps,andfeltacrushingguilt.HehadunderestimatedtheferocityofCamille.Hehadassumedthatwhathadneverhappenedcouldnothappen.Heheldhisheadbetweenhishands,andsilentlyprayed:"Getusthroughthismess,willYou?" 18Amomentlater,thehurricane,inonemightyswipe,liftedtheentireroofoffthehouseandskimmedit40feetthroughtheair.Thebottomstepsofthestaircasebrokeapart.Onewallbegancrumblingonthemaroonedgroup. 19Dr.RobertH.Simpson,directoroftheNationalHurricaneCenterinMiami,Fla.,gradedHurricaneCamilleas"thegreatestrecordedstormevertohitapopulatedareaintheWesternHemisphere."initsconcentratedbreadthofsome70milesitshotoutwindsofnearly200m.p.h.andraisedtidesashighas30feet.AlongtheGulfCoastitdevastatedeverythinginitsswath:19,467homesand709smallbusinessesweredemolishedorseverelydamaged.itseizeda600,000-gallonGulfportoiltankanddumpedit3~milesaway.Ittorethreelargecargoshipsfromtheirmooringsandbeachedthem.Telephonepolesand20-inch-thickpinescrackedlikegunsasthewindssnappedthem. 20TothewestofGulfport,thetownofPassChristianwasvirtuallywipedout.SeveralvacationersattheluxuriousRichelieuApartmentsthereheldahurricanepartytowatchthestormfromtheirspectacularvantagepoint.RichelieuApartmentsweresmashedapartasifbyagiganticfist,and26peopleperished. 21SecondsaftertheroofblewofftheKoshakhouse,johnyelled,"Upthestairs--intoourbedroom!Countthekids."Thechildrenhuddledintheslashingrainwithinthecircleofadults.GrandmotherKoshakimplored,"Children,let'ssing!"Thechildrenweretoofrightenedtorespond.Shecarriedonaloneforafewbars;thenhervoicetrailedaway. 22Debrisflewastheliving-roomfireplaceanditschimneycollapsed.Withtwowallsintheirbedroomsanctuarybeginningtodisintegrate,Johnordered,"Intothetelevisionroom!"Thiswastheroomfarthestfromthedirectionofthestorm. 23Foraninstant,Johnputhisarmaroundhiswife.Janisunderstood.Shiveringfromthewindandrainandfear,clutchingtwochildrentoher,shethought,DearLord,givemethestrengthtoendurewhatIhaveto.Shefeltangeragainstthehurricane.Wewon'tletitwin. 24PopKoshakragedsilently,frustratedatnotbeingabletodoanythingtofightCamille.Withoutreason,hedraggedacedarchestandadoublemattressfromabed-roomintotheTVroom.Atthatmoment,thewindtoreoutonewallandextinguishedthelantern.Asecondwallmoved,wavered,CharlieHilltriedtosupportit,butittoppledonhim,injuringhisback.Thehouse,shudderingandrocking,hadmoved25feetfromitsfoundations.Theworldseemedtobebreakingapart. 25"Let'sgetthatmattressup!"Johnshoutedtohisfather."Makeitalean-toagainstthewind.Getthekidsunderit.Wecanpropitupwithourheadsandshoulders!" 26Thelargerchildrensprawledonthefloor,withthesmalleronesinalayerontopofthem,andtheadultsbentoverallnine.Thefloortilted.Theboxcontainingthelitterofkittensslidoffashelfandvanishedinthewind.Spookyflewoffthetopofaslidingbookcaseandalsodisappeared.Thedogcoweredwitheyesclosed.Athirdwallgaveway.Waterlappedacrosstheslantingfloor.Johngrabbedadoorwhichwasstillhingedtooneclosetwall."Ifthefloorgoes,"heyelledathisfather,"let'sgetthekidsonthis." 27Inthatmoment,thewindslightlydiminished,andthewaterstoppedrising.Thenthewaterbeganreceding.ThemainthrustofCamillehadpassed.TheKoshaksandtheirfriendshadsurvived. 28Withthedawn,Gulfportpeoplestartedcomingbacktotheirhomes.Theysawhumanbodies--morethan130men,womenandchildrendiedalongtheMississippicoast-andpartsofthebeachandhighwaywerestrewnwithdeaddogs,cats,cattle.Stripsofclothingfestoonedthestandingtrees,andblowndownpowerlinescoiledlikeblackspaghettiovertheroads. 29Noneofthereturneesmovedquicklyorspokeloudly;theystoodshocked,tryingtoabsorbtheshatteringscenesbeforetheireyes."Whatdowedot"theyasked."Wheredowego?" 30Bythistime,organizationswithintheareaand,ineffect,theentirepopulationoftheUnitedStateshadcometotheaidofthedevastatedcoast.Beforedawn,theMississippiNationalGuardandcivil-defenseunitsweremovingintohandletraffic,guardproperty,setupcommunicationscenters,helpclearthedebrisandtakethehomelessbytruckandbustorefugeecenters.By10a.m.,theSalvationArmy'scanteentrucksandRedCrossvolunteersandstaffersweregoingwhereverpossibletodistributehotdrinks,food,clothingandbedding. 31Fromhundredsoftownsandcitiesacrossthecountrycameseveralmilliondollarsindonations;householdandmedicalsuppliesstreamedinbyplane,train,truckandcar.Thefederalgovernmentshipped4,400,000poundsoffood,movedinmobilehomes,setupportableclassrooms,openedofficestoprovidelow-interest,long-termbusinessloans. 32Camille,meanwhile,hadrakeditswaynorthwardacrossMississippi,droppingmorethan28inchesofrainintoWestVirginiaandsouthernVirginia,causingrampagingfloods,hugemountainslidesand111additionaldeathsbeforebreakingupovertheAtlanticOcean. 33LikemanyotherGulfportfamilies,theKoshaksquicklybeganreorganizingtheirlives,Johndividedhisfamilyinthehomesoftwofriends.Theneighborwithhertwochildrenwenttoarefugeecenter.CharlieHillfoundaroomforrent.ByTuesday,Charlie'sbackhadimproved,andhepitchedinwithSeabeesintheworstvolunteerworkofall--searchingforbodies.Threedaysafterthestorm,hedecidednottoreturntoLasVegas,butto"remaininGulfportandhelprebuildthecommunity." 34Neartheendofthefirstweek,afriendofferedtheKoshakshisapartment,andthefamilywasreunited.Thechildrenappearedtosuffernopsychologicaldamagefromtheirexperience;theywerestillawedbytheincomprehensiblepowerofthehurricane,butenjoyeddescribingwhattheyhadseenandheardonthatfrightfulnight,Janishadjustonedelayedreaction.Afewnightsafterthehurricane,sheawokesuddenlyat2a.m.Shequietlygotupandwentoutside.Lookingupattheskyand,withoutknowingshewasgoingtodoit,shebegantocrysoftly. 35Meanwhile,John,PopandCharliewerepickingthroughthewreckageofthehome.Itcouldhavebeendepressing,butitwasn't:eachsalvageditemrepresentedalittlevictoryoverthewrathofthestorm.Thedogandcatsuddenlyappearedatthescene,aliveandhungry. 36Butthebluesdidoccasionallyafflictalltheadults.Once,inalowmood,Johnsaidtohisparents,"Iwantedyouheresothatwewouldallbetogether,soyoucouldenjoythechildren,andlookwhathappened." 37Hisfather,whohadmadeuphismindtostartaweldingshopwhenlivingwasnormalagain,said,"Let'snotcryaboutwhat'sgone.We'IIjuststartallover." 38"You'regreat,"Johnsaid."Andthistownhasalotofgreatpeopleinit.It'sgoingtobebetterherethaniteverwasbefore." 39Later,GrandmotherKoshakreflected:"Welostpracticallyallourpossessions,butthefamilycamethroughit.WhenIthinkofthat,Irealizewelostnothingimportant."(fromRhetoricandLiteraturebyP.JosephCanavan)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTES1.Josephp.Blank:Thewriterpublished"FacetoFacewithHurricaneCamille"intheReader'sDigest,March1970.2.HurricaneCamille:IntheUnitedStateshurricanesarenamedalphabeticallyandgiventhenamesofpeoplelikeHurricaneCamille,HurricaneBetsy,andsoon;whereasinChinaTyphoonsaregivenserialnumberslikeTyphoonNo.1,TyphoonNo.2andsoon.3.TheSalvationArmy:AProtestantreligiousbodydevotedtotheconversionof,andsocialworkamongthepoor,andcharacterizedbyuseofmilitarytitles,uniforms,etc.Itwasfoundedin1878by"General"BoothinLondon;nowworldwideinoperation.4.RedCross:aninternationalorganization(infullInternationalRedCross),foundedin1864withheadquartersandbranchesinallcountriessignatorytotheGenevaConvention,forthereliefofsufferingintimeofwarordisaster--------------------------------------------------------------------------------MarrakechGeorgeOrwell-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Asthecorpsewentpasttheflieslefttherestauranttableinacloudandrushedafterit,buttheycamebackafewminuteslater. 2Thelittlecrowdofmourners--allmenandboys,nowomen--threadedtheirwayacrossthemarketplacebetweenthepilesofpomegranatesandthetaxisandthecamels,wallingashortchantoverandoveragain.Whatreallyappealstothefliesisthatthecorpseshereareneverputintocoffins,theyaremerelywrappedinapieceofragandcarriedonaroughwoodenbierontheshouldersoffourfriends.Whenthefriendsgettotheburying-groundtheyhackanoblongholeafootortwodeep,dumpthebodyinitandflingoveritalittleofthedried-up,lumpyearth,whichislikebrokenbrick.Nogravestone,noname,noidentifyingmarkofanykind.Theburying-groundismerelyahugewasteofhummockyearth,likeaderelictbuilding-lot.Afteramonthortwonoonecanevenbecertainwherehisownrelativesareburied. 3Whenyouwalkthroughatownlikethis--twohundredthousandinhabitantsofwhomatleasttwentythousandownliterallynothingexcepttheragstheystandupin--whenyouseehowthepeoplelive,andstillmorehoweasilytheydie,itisalwaysdifficulttobelievethatyouare walkingamonghumanbeings.Allcolonialempiresareinrealityfoundeduponthisfact.Thepeoplehavebrownfaces--besides,therearesomanyofthem!Aretheyreallythesamefleshasyourself?Dotheyevenhavenames?Oraretheymerelyakindofundifferentiatedbrownstuff,aboutasindividualasbeesorcoralinsects?Theyriseoutoftheearth,theysweatandstarveforafewyears,andthentheysinkbackintothenamelessmoundsofthegraveyardandnobodynoticesthattheyaregone.Andeventhegravesthemselvessoonfadebackintothesoil.Sometimes,outforawalkasyoubreakyourwaythroughthepricklypear,younoticethatitisratherbumpyunderfoot,andonlyacertainregularityinthebumpstellsyouthatyouarewalkingoverskeletons. 4Iwasfeedingoneofthegazellesinthepublicgardens. 5Gazellesarealmosttheonlyanimalsthatlookgoodtoeatwhentheyarestillalive,infact,onecanhardlylookattheirhindquarterswithoutthinkingofamintsauce.ThegazelleIwasfeedingseemedtoknowthatthisthoughtwasinmymind,forthoughittookthepieceofbreadIwasholdingoutitobviouslydidnotlikeme.Itnibblednibbledrapidlyatthebread,thenlowereditsheadandtriedtobuttme,thentookanothernibbleandthenbuttedagain.Probablyitsideawasthatifitcoulddrivemeawaythebreadwouldsomehowremainhanginginmid-air. 6AnArabnavvyworkingonthepathnearbyloweredhisheavyhoeandsidledslowlytowardsus.Helookedfromthegazelletothebreadandfromthebreadtothegazelle,withasortofquietamazement,asthoughhehadneverseenanythingquitelikethisbefore.FinallyhesaidshylyinFrench:"1couldeatsomeofthatbread." 7Itoreoffapieceandhestoweditgratefullyinsomesecretplaceunderhisrags.Thismanisanemployeeofthe municipality. 8WhenyougothroughtheJewishQuartersyougathersomeideaofwhatthemedievalghettoeswereprobablylike.UndertheirMoorishMoorishrulerstheJewswereonlyallowedtoownlandincertainrestrictedareas,andaftercenturiesofthiskindoftreatmenttheyhaveceasedtobotheraboutovercrowding.Manyofthestreetsareagooddeallessthansixfeetwide,thehousesarecompletelywindowless,andsore-eyedchildrenclustereverywhereinunbelievablenumbers,likecloudsofflies.Downthecentreofthestreetthereisgenerallyrunningalittleriverofurine. 9InthebazaarhugefamiliesofJews,alldressedinthelongblackrobeandlittleblackskull-cap,areworkingindarkfly-infestedboothsthatlooklikecaves.Acarpentersitscrossleggedataprehistoriclathe,turningchairlegsatlightningspeed.Heworksthelathewithabowinhisrighthandandguidesthechiselwithhisleftfoot,andthankstoalifetimeofsittinginthispositionhisleftlegiswarpedoutofshape.Athissidehisgrandson,agedsix,isalreadystartingonthesimplerpartsofthejob. 10Iwasjustpassingthecoppersmiths'boothswhensomebodynoticedthatIwaslightingacigarette.Instantly,fromthedarkholesallround,therewasafrenziedrushofJews,manyofthemoldgrandfatherswithflowinggreybeards,allclamouringforacigarette.Evenablindmansomewhereatthebackofoneoftheboothsheardarumourofcigarettesandcamecrawlingout,gropingintheairwithhishand.InaboutaminuteIhadusedupthewholepacket.Noneofthesepeople,Isuppose,workslessthantwelvehoursaday,andeveryoneofthemlooksonacigaretteasamoreorlessimpossibleluxury. 11AstheJewsliveinself-containedcommunitiestheyfollowthesametradesastheArabs,exceptforagriculture.Fruitsellers,potters,silversmiths,blacksmiths,butchers,leather-workers,tailors,water-carriers,beggars,porters--whicheverwayyoulookyouseenothingbutJews.Asamatteroffacttherearethirteenthousandofthem,alllivinginthespaceofafewacres.AgoodjobHitletwasn'there.Perhapshewasonhisway,however.YouheartheusualdarkrumoursaboutJews,notonlyfromtheArabsbutfromthepoorerEuropeans. 12"Yesvieuxmonvieux,theytookmyjobawayfrommeandgaveittoaJew.TheJews!They'retherealrulersofthiscountry,youknow.They’vegotallthemoney.Theycontrolthebanks,finance--everything." 13"But",Isaid,"isn'titafactthattheaverageJewisalabourerworkingforaboutapennyanhour?" 14"Ah,that'sonlyforshow!They'reallmoneylendersreally.They'recunning,theJews." 15Injustthesameway,acoupleofhundredyearsago,pooroldwomenusedtobeburnedforwitchcraftwhentheycouldnotevenworkenoughmagictogetthemselvesasquaremeal.squaremeal 16Allpeoplewhoworkwiththeirhandsarepartlyinvisible,andthemoreimportanttheworktheydo,thelessvisibletheyare.Still,awhiteskinisalwaysfairlyconspicuous.InnorthernEurope,whenyouseealabourerploughingafield,youprobablygivehimasecondglance.Inahotcountry,anywheresouthofGibraltaroreastofSuez,thechancesarethatyoudon'tevenseehim.Ihavenoticedthisagainandagain.Inatropicallandscapeone'seyetakesineverythingexceptthehumanbeings.Ittakesinthedried-upsoil,thepricklypear,thepalmtreeandthedistantmountain,butitalwaysmissesthepeasanthoeingathispatch.Heisthesamecolourastheearth,andagreatdeallessinterestingtolookat. 17ItisonlybecauseofthisthatthestarvedcountriesofAsiaandAfricaareacceptedastouristresorts.NoonewouldthinkofrunningcheaptripstotheDistressedAreas.Butwherethehumanbeingshavebrownskinstheirpovertyissimplynotnoticed.WhatdoesMoroccomeantoaFrenchman?AnorangegroveorajobinGovernmentservice.OrtoanEnglishman?Camels,castles,palmtrees,ForeignLegionnaires,brasstrays,andbandits.Onecouldprobablylivethereforyearswithoutnoticingthatfornine-tenthsofthepeopletherealityoflifeisanendlessback-breakingstruggletowringalittlefoodoutofanerodedsoil. 18MostofMoroccoissodesolatethatnowildanimalbiggerthanaharecanliveonit.Hugeareaswhichwereoncecoveredwithforesthaveturnedintoatreelesswastewherethesoilisexactlylikebroken-upbrick.Neverthelessagooddealofitiscultivated,withfrightfullabour.Everythingisdonebyhand.Longlinesofwomen,bentdoublelikeinvertedcapitalLs,worktheirwayslowlyacrossthefields,tearingupthepricklyweedswiththeirhands,andthepeasantgatheringlucerneforfodderpullsitupstalkbystalkinsteadofreapingit,thussavinganinchortwooneachstalk.Theploughisawretchedwoodenthing,sofrailthatonecaneasilycarryitonone'sshoulder,andfittedunderneathwitharoughironspikewhichstirsthesoiltoadepthofaboutfourinches.Thisisasmuchasthestrengthoftheanimalsisequalto.Itisusualtoploughwithacowandadonkeyyokedtogether.Twodonkeyswouldnotbequitestrongenough,butontheotherhandtwocowswouldcostalittlemoretofeed.Thepeasantspossessnonarrows,theymerelyploughthesoilseveraltimesoverindifferentdirections,finallyleavingitinroughfurrows,afterwhichthewholefieldhastobeshapedwithhoesintosmalloblongpatchestoconservewater.Exceptforadayortwoaftertherarerainstormsthereisneverenoughwater.Alongtheedgesofthefieldschannelsarehackedouttoadepthofthirtyorfortyfeettogetatthetinytrickleswhichrunthroughthesubsoil. 19Everyafternoonafileofveryoldwomenpassesdowntheroadoutsidemyhouse,eachcarryingaloadoffirewood.Allofthemaremummifiedwithageandthesun,andallofthemaretiny.Itseemstobegenerallythecaseinprimitivecommunitiesthatthewomen,whentheygetbeyondacertainage,shrinktothesizeofchildren.Onedaypoorcreaturewhocouldnothavebeenmorethanfourfeettallcreptpastmeunde
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