September 10, 1988 – CBS World News Roundup – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
September 10, 1988 – I don’t know if misery really ever liked company, but on this particular September 10, twenty years ago, we were dealing with the affects of Hurricane Florence.
Hurricane Florence was the third of four named tropical cyclones to make landfall on the United States during the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season. The seventh tropical storm and second hurricane of the season, Florence developed on September 7 from an area of convection associated with a dissipating frontal trough in the southern Gulf of Mexico. After initially moving eastward, the storm turned northward and strengthened. Florence reached hurricane status and later peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) on September 9 shortly before striking southeastern Louisiana. The storm rapidly weakened over land and dissipated on September 11 over northeastern Texas.
Early in its duration, the storm dropped rainfall across the Yucatán Peninsula. Upon striking Louisiana, Florence produced a moderate storm surge, causing severe beach erosion in some locations. Gusty winds were also reported, causing power outages to over 100,000 people. In Alabama, one man died while trying to secure his boat. Rainfall from the hurricane caused severe river flooding in portions of the Florida Panhandle in an area already severely affected by heavy rainfall; the flooding damaged or destroyed dozens of houses in Santa Rosa County. Throughout its path, damage totaled about $2.9 million (1988 USD, $5.3 million 2008 USD).
And twenty years ago we were also dealing with the possibilities of Tropical Storm Gilbert (which would develop into a full-fledged Hurricane within a day). It was a reminder that September meant Hurricane season and still a reminder that Hurricane season is alive and well.
And if it wasn’t the fallout from Hurricanes it was the aftermath of fires – and this one, burning out of control in Yellowstone National Park hd already claimed the life of at least one firefighter. As of this day it had already become a deadly ordeal as crews sought to get a handle on the blazes that were encircling the national Park.
And that’s a little of what went on, this September 10, 1988 as reported by The CBS World News Roundup.
