"I remember it was cool that morning. The water was rough even on the boat ride to the island that day before. The wind that morning had gotten so strong though the sand started stingin'. I didn't stay at the beach long after nor did my folks stay at the casino. Went back to the house with mah and pah and the kin, and we didn't go outside after that. Nobody bothered stepping out for a smoke break because of the wind. It started to howl, and then scream...I'd never been so terrified in my life. The windows rattled, the house literally shook. It sounded like a huge demonic creature was trying to charge through. I thought I could hear voices in the wind, but the wind screamed even louder with the pain and destruction it brought. Water was coming from beneath the house through the floor, and there was a different sound like there was clawing at the walls. I started crying, but my mah beat me to it. Pah took us to the bathroom, lit a candle...and together we sat in the tub ducked down praying. My ears felt funny, and my throat ached from cry-voice. I could hear the wind ripping our home apart, and it was so loud there were sounds some I couldn't even identify. I heard the windows explode and wind breaking in. Felt like the house made a big move 'cause the tub slid. Water was almost up to the top rim of the tub, felt like I couldn't breathe after that. The roof fell in and tilted over us, and the walls split apart and crumbled. I didn't have to look to see outside it was everywhere after that. Part of the roof looked like it was being dragged by the wind, and so did the walls. We knew soon there'd be nothing left. I think pah hugged and told mah goodbye........."
1856 Last Island (Isle Dernière), Louisiana
2010 Raccoon Point, Raccoon, Whiskey, Trinity, East, and Vine (a.k.a. Wine) Island, Louisiana
Last Island was an island around 25 miles long, 1 mile wide, and considered a pleasure resort of the time. It was almost like the Galveston or Mobile of Louisiana. Nice beaches, casinos, a village of houses. People vacationed there and considered a safe haven from yellow fever that spread throughout New Orleans. But August 11, 1856, a hurricane so powerful hit the island, no building or tree taller than 2 feet stayed standing. Over 200 peopled died, and the few survivors dealt with being stranded and looters. The bays that separated the land from the isle looked like a gulf afterward, and the land was forever changed, splitting the island into 6 islands (listed above). The land was forever changed that day, and happened fast. Today the islands are small, and barely as visible as it once were; all happened within one century, which can happen again. Today people go from Cocodrie to the isles for fishing mostly...Stories of survivors still exist as a novel and is now available in stores!
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