Hurricane Watch (1956)

[Music] hurricanes killers destroyers nothing now known to man can stop them but the damage they caused can be minimized and the number of lives they take can be lessened by timely warnings and proper preventive action this is the story of a hurricane and how some people reacted to it it starts in the tropical Atlantic where a freighter is turning her way to New York from South America on her bridge the deck officer is completing a weather entry in the ship's log white sea wind northeast force for barometer 29.80 falling slowly just an entry in a ship's log normally it wouldn't be too important but this is the tropical Atlantic spawning ground of the hurricane and this weather observation has the earmarks of a hurricane being born and so a message goes out to the weather bureau a message that may later affect the lives of millions of people along the east coast of the United States people like Judge Scott Florida salesman Jim Gibson South Carolina executive bill Bishop and Sid Schwartz vacationing office workers Sargent Cantrell State Highway Patrol and Jayne Graham Maryland housewife all of them going about their daily business all of them unaware at the moment of a short radio message that sets in motion a pre-arranged plan designed to protect their property and save their lives coordinator of this plan is the United States weather bureau at this very moment the ship's weather message is being received at weather bureau offices along the entire eastern seaboard just a hint of trouble here but enough for experienced meteorologists to request reconnaissance flights into the area and the military's famed hurricane hunters respond both the Navy and the Air Force maintain specially equipped squadrons ready to take off at a moment's notice to investigate a potential hurricane they don't always find a severe storm but this time it looks like something really big may be brewing but how big there's one way to find out so these courageous fliers take their planes into the very teeth of the gale first the rain squalls then there's the plane penetrates the winds increase they lash at the plane with an incredible fury men and machine fight for survival as the winds threatened to hurl them into the raging sea below at frequent intervals whether data is radioed back to the hurricane forecast centers then as if by magic the storm appears to give up the struggle this is the center or eye of the storm here the winds are almost calm the air hot and humid and here the urologist continue their work wind direction and speed pressure and many other conditions are reported so that the waiting public will know at all times where the storm is and how it will affect them good the paper said there's a hurricane on the way we'd better check the storm shutters and make sure everything's okay Dane help your father get the lawn furniture in I'm going in and wait a minute Kathy let me see that article relax honey we don't have to anything yep the story says the storm is still east of Puerto Rico it can keep the radio tuned in and listen to the weather bureau advisories and if there's any chance of the storm hitting this area we'll be warned yes mrs. guard relax because this hurricane is being carefully watched while it may eventually come your way for the moment you are not in danger hurricanes are erratic and usually slow-moving ordinarily they move forward at 15 miles per hour or less so normally there's time for ample warning but more important most hurricanes never touched the United States many stay out at sea or veer into Central America or Mexico but whichever way they go and this one is headed for the United States you and everyone else in its path will be informed keep alert and follow the latest weather bureau bulletins and now station W MPs brings you five minutes of the latest news hurricane watch has just been issued by the weather bureau for the Georgia and Carolina coasts hurricane Betty is located 300 miles east of Daytona Beach Florida moving Northwest at 15 miles per hour this does not mean that there is immediate danger however all small boat operators are advised to stay in Port or if it Z to return home we go we can you don't know I am mr. Gibson I just got the latest weather bureau advisory on Hurricane Betty over the radio the storm is about 300 miles east of Daytona Beach Florida there's no danger to Florida but the weather bureau has issued a hurricane watch for the Georgia and Carolina coast thank you mrs. Wilson would you call the maintenance Foreman and have him put his crew on standby orders in the meantime I'll make preliminary plans for shutting down the plant and oh yes keep the radio turned on for the next advisory we don't want to stop production unnecessarily Ackman I just had a call from the weather bureau and the hurricane watch has been issued for this area I want you to dispatch two cars to the beach and notify everyone there also contact corporal weeks and have him set up the Huracan detail and to watch this thing very closely we want to be able to move fast when we get the warning yes hurricane watch for the Georgia and Carolina coasts this notice tells everyone in that area to be on their guard yet conditions so far do not justify hurricane warnings once the watch is issued residents in low-lying coastal areas should make plans if necessary to move to high ground away from the danger of high tides public utilities mobilize standby crews and ready their equipment for instant action all this time upper air soundings are taken ahead of the storm at coastal stations nearer of the danger the normal tempo of operation is increased weather conditions from sea level up to 60,000 feet are studied here to radar born and bred for war but now developed to help save lives probes the heavens for signs of the storm and there it is still off the coast but moving steadily forward this storm is becoming more of a threat each hour [Music] back at the hurricane forecast center the tracking continues here rests the responsibility for evaluation of reports from other stations from ships at sea from hurricane reconnaissance flights and when necessary for issuance of warnings and it is here as it all weather stations in the area then a special emergency Warning Center is set up to this Center come Red Cross and civil defense workers as well as representatives of Press radio and television erratically the storm moves closer almost as if searching for the right spot to move inland everyone watches and waits [Music] ladies and gentlemen it now appears quite certain that Hurricane Betty will cross the coast tomorrow morning between Wilmington North Carolina and Cape Hatteras the storm at the present time is about 150 miles south of Wilmington and is expected to move north or to the next 24 hours to the Chesapeake Bay Area the hurricane watch on the Georgia and South Carolina coast has been canceled we're now issuing hurricane warnings for the North Carolina Virginia and Maryland coast this means that all precautions should be taken immediately against the full effects of this storm this is it hurricane watch has been changed to hurricane warning now the public must act to protect property and save lives Jr's getting dangerous we interrupt this program for a bulletin on Hurricane Betty the hurricane is now about 150 miles south of Wilmington North Carolina and moving in a northerly direction about 12 miles an hour people in eastern North Carolina and the coastal areas of Virginia and Maryland are advised to take all possible precautions please listen carefully keep your television or radio set on at all times and listen for official weather bureau bulletins if power fails use a portable or car radio do not listen to rumors if your house is out of danger from high tides or floods and is well built remain there but check on everything that might blow away or tear loose trash cans garden tools signs porch furniture toys and other objects become weapons of destruction in hurricane winds put your auto in a safe place and make sure you have plenty of gasoline your gas station may be unable to operate pumps if electric power fails if you are an exposed areas sterilize the bathtub bottles jugs and cooking utensils and fill them with water city water service may be interrupted check your food supply and make sure you have things that require a little preparation and no refrigeration remember electric power may be off for some time and if it is keep your refrigerators and freezers closed to prevent food spoilage make sure your emergency lights and cooking facilities are in proper working order get away from low-lying beaches or other locations that may be swept by tides or flooded by swollen streams remember most hurricane casualties are caused by drowning and be sure that shutters are snugly constructed and securely fastened whether you leave or not if your passage to high ground is likely to be flooded leave early don't risk the chance of being marooned [Music] tie up boats before the winds and tides increase and do not venture out to check moorings during the storm you can do little against the force of a hurricane stay inside now everything has been done that can be done now the fury strikes [Music] [Applause] [Music] but every storm is followed by clearing weather this one is no exception everywhere the awesome power of the hurricane is evident shattered sunken and beached boat [Music] crushed torn and battered buildings [Music] tired weary but living people living because no matter where they were or no matter how great the danger they knew at all times where the hurricane was and what they had to do yes living because dedicated people worked round the clock to maintain an ever watchful hurricane warning service [Music]