Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Hurricane Audrey: The Deadly Storm of 1957 by Cathy C. Post is a retelling of the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Audrey on mid-century Cameron, Louisiana. As the storm approaches, families prepare for evacuation, with Captain D.W. Griffith coordinating efforts to evacuate oil rig crews. Local residents, including Clara Broussard and the DeBarge family, express growing concerns about the hurricane. It is chaos when the storm lands, with families fighting against rising floodwaters, leading to urgent evacuations, including those facilitated by the sheriff’s boat. Post's work leans heavily into the community's collective resilience, with survivors seeking refuge and medical assistance when the storm finally passes. The aftermath reveals significant devastation, and families begin to regroup and reflect on their experiences before and after Audrey, showing readers the long-lasting effects of the disaster.

I'm ashamed to say that I knew nothing of this natural disaster before reading Cathy C. Post's Hurricane Audrey, and genuinely appreciate this literary revival that focuses on the real experiences of those who lived through it. Post's writing is clear and often cinematic, pulling us into the terrifying moments. The standout to me is reading about families like Brown and Alice clinging for their lives as the chaos of nature’s fury rages around them. Post captures the raw emotion and grit of the survivors, depicting their determination to assist one another and rebuild, especially after the disaster. I thought Post's descriptions of the community’s hardships, from makeshift shelters to frantic searches for loved ones, especially moving. Overall, Post's work serves as both a historical account and an affecting tribute to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy, making it a must-read for those interested in the history and the individual stories that drive it. Very highly recommended.