Reply #74: How about the first one I was in the middle of? [View All]

[Left_Winger]

Being a SC native and lifelong resident there have been many hurricanes in my lifetime, but I have always moved out of the way when they came. However, in 1989 I was in the National Guard and my unit was mobilized because Hurricane Hugo was headed directly at our coastline; Charleston to be specific. The governor declared a mandatory evacuation and the majority of the people responded, but the NG units had to remain in the area and ride out the storm. The hurricane arrived around midnight with 135 mph winds with even stronger gusts. By dawn the storm had moved inland and we went to our assigned locations to begin securing the various parts of the city. I will never forget how eerie it was to be in a city which had been evacuated. The one thing which remains with me is not what I would have expected: the smell. The entire area had the aroma of a wet, moldy carpet (albeit with salt water).