Conrad Simmons had heard people say that a tornado sounds like a train whistle. But when the powerful winds coming off of Hurricane Isaias hit her trailer in the 99 Oaks Mobile Home Park in Pensacola, FL, the sound she heard was more of a low rumble.
“It sounded like a growling, like a giant monster breathing outside the house,” Simmons said.
The winds were part of an unusual weather phenomenon called a sting jet, which materialized when drier air ran into the hurricane as it moved, causing cooler air to plummet to Earth in gusts up to 117 mph.
The result has been widespread destruction across Pensacola and beyond—downed trees took out power lines across Escambia County, and much of the region is still without power days later.
All Hands & Hearts is here, handing out solar lamps, roof patch kits and hygiene kits for impacted members of the community. When we delivered the supplies to Simmons, she showed us some of the damage done to her trailer—multiple trees had collapsed against the side of Simmons’ home, with branches poking holes in the roof over the living room.
“These are still open, we haven’t even closed them yet,” she said, indicating to a caving spot in the ceiling. Branches pierced through three places in the hall, as well as the back bedroom and bathroom.
Simmons, though, was relatively lucky. In 99 Oaks, four people had their trailers completely crushed by trees.
Families in Pensacola are facing severe damage, caving roofs, and power outages in the wake of Hurricane Isaias. AH&H will remain in Pensacola in the coming days, handing out supplies, assessing the needs of the community and figuring out where we’re needed most.
Help Pensacola Recover After Hurricane Isaias
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