Hurricane Response Lessons from the Past: Hurricane Dora, September 1964

By Maj. William Carraway

Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

 

Base Operations at Travis Field, Savannah, Ga. Nearly 70 families sought shelter from Hurricane Dora at the 165th Air Transport Group Headquarters
at Travis Field in 1964. Georgia National Guard Archives.

Introduction:

On September 10, 1964, Hurricane Dora made landfall just north of St. Augustine Florida drenching South Georgia with rain. The Georgia National Guard response to Hurricane Dora in 1964 provides insight into how the Ga. Department of Defense approaches hurricane response operations in the 21^st Century. While the Ga. DoD of today has the advantages of satellite coverage, internet and cellular phone communications, a review of the actions in 1964 demonstrate that many of the key response tasks of the Ga. National Guard have not materially changed since 1964. During recent hurricane responses such as Irma, Matthew and Michael, Georgia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have deployed on debris clearances missions, staffed points of distribution, retrograded aviation assets and provided power generation capabilities to civil authorities as they did in the wake of Hurricane Dora in 1964. While technology may have changed, the fundamental role of leadership and mission command in domestic response operations has not.

Dora’s Approach

On September 1, 1964, reconnaissance aircraft investigating a tropical depression in the Caribbean discovered a growing tropical storm. The next day, the storm reached hurricane strength and was designated Hurricane Dora.[1]

The Civil Defense Division Situation Board at the Ga. DoD Headquarters, Atlanta. Georgia Guard Archives.

The Civil Defense Division, forerunner of GEMA

Meanwhile, at the Georgia National Guard Headquarters in Atlanta, Maj. Gen George Hearn, Georgia’s Adjutant General monitored the storm's approach and discussed courses of action with his civil defense directors. In 1964, the Ga. DoD was comprised of two divisions – the military division with the Ga. Army and Air National Guard, and a civil defense division. The Georgia Civil Defense Division was established through the Civil Defense Act of 1951 with the primary responsibility of preparing for the possibility of nuclear attack. Gradually, the role of the state civil defense divisions broadened to include other domestic emergencies, notably, hurricane response. In November 1978, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was established through the merger of several federal agencies that had a roll in emergency response. Accordingly, On July 1, 1981, Georgia’s Defense Division was redesignated the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.[2]

The Georgia DoD Response

As the days ticked away through the first week of September and impact to Savannah appeared increasingly likely, Hearn ordered the 165^th Air Transport Group to begin assisting civil authorities with evacuation of hospital patients and long term care facilities in the Chatham County area. On September 8, the 165^th ATG began transporting patients with Air National Guard jeeps and buses. The same day, the 165^th ATG dispatched its inventory of C-97 Stratofreighters to Nashville to wait out the approaching hurricane.

Colonel Bill Kelly, Base Detachment Commander, Travis Air Field (second from left) with C-97 Stratofreighter. 

By September 9, Hearn had directed Col. Bill Kelly, base detachment commander at Travis to be prepared to set up field kitchens to provide food services following Hurricane impact. Kelly also dispatched Ga. ANG generators to vital infrastructure locations including police, fire and medical facilities. Nearly 70 families of service members living at Travis Field were housed at the headquarters of the 165^th ATG. Among those seeking shelter were three expecting mothers.

1964 Tracking map of Hurricane Dora. National Oceananic and Atmospheric Administration.

The next day, Dora had reached Category 2 strength while its track had leveled westward sparing Travis Field a direct impact.[3] Just after midnight September 10, the eye of Hurricane Dora made landfall just north of St. Augustine Florida, approximately 120 miles south of Brunswick. That day, nearly 80 Soldiers of the Brunswick-based 3rd Battalion 118th Field Artillery were activated by Georgia’s Governor to assist city and county police in navigating debris-strewn roads. Brunswick’s streets were flooded to a depth of three feet while trees and powerlines were down throughout the region.[4] Guardsmen throughout the impact area were also stationed at businesses to prevent looting. Meanwhile, the Ga. Air National Guard’s 224th Mobile Communications Squadron on St. Simons Island dispatched emergency power generators to Brunswick and St. Marys, Ga.  

Airmen of the St. Simon's Island-based 224th Radio Relay Squadron prepare to set up an antenna during a unit training assembly in April 1957. They are,
left to right: Airmen Peyton M. Harrison, Harris T. Mincher, William H. Reynolds, Hershel C. Buchan and Johhny M. Mullins. The 224th was redesignated
the 224th Mobile Communications Squadron March 16, 1961 and provided emergency back up power generators during the response to Hurricane Dora
in 1964. Georgia National Guard Archives.

After tracking westward and downgrading to a tropical storm, Dora tracked north at the Georgia, Alabama border and began a northeasterly transit of Georgia passing between Savannah and Augusta and dropping from five to ten inches of rain across southeast Georgia.[5] Dora dissipated over the Atlantic but not before causing upwards of 250 million dollars in damage in Florida and Georgia.[6]

Maj. Gen. George Hearn

Aftermath

Governor Carl Sanders, speaking to the National Guard Association of Georgia annual convention Sept. 12, 1964 in Augusta praised the work of the Georgia National Guard and its adjutant general.

"It is fitting," said Sanders "that I take this opportune moment to extend the gratitude of all Georgians to our most capable Adjutant General, George J. Hearn, who sprang immediately into action at the first sign of this recent crisis to provide the guidance and to exercise unified control over the civil defense activities within our State. This essential coordination and clear-thinking once again turned a time of crisis into a time of victory.”[7]

 

 

[1] “Hurricane Dora Calmed by Georgia Guardsmen.” Georgia Guardsman Magazine. September 1964, 12.

[2] “Civil Defense Changes Name to GEMA.” Georgia Guardsman Magazine, March/April 1981, 16.

[3] “Hurricane Dora - September 7-15, 1964.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/dora1964.html

[4] Horace S. Carter. Preliminary Report on Hurricane Dora. United States Weather Bureau (Report). Athens, Georgia. Sept. 11, 1964, 1.

[5] David Roth. Dora 194 Rainfall. Weather Prediction Center, Camp Springs, Maryland - WPC tropical cyclone rainfall data, Public Domain.

[6] Dunn, Gordon E; Staff (March 1, 1965). "The hurricane season of 1964" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 93 (3): 177. Bibcode:1965MWRv...93..175D. doi:10.1175/1520-0493-93.3.175

[7] “NG Association Installs Rhodes, Names McKenna President Elect. Georgia Guardsman Magazine, September/October 1964, 6.

Historical Sketch of the 190th Military Police Company

by Maj. William 

Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

Introduction

Capt. Charles G. Follin 
photo by Maj. William Carraway

On Jan. 12, 2019 Capt. Charles G. Follin relinquished command of the 190^th Military Police Company to Capt. Michael T. Moores The change of command was just the latest chapter in the history of the 190^th MP Company, which in 2019 will mark 95 years of service in the Georgia Army National Guard.

Formation and Early History

The 190^th MP Company was organized and federally recognized March 5, 1924 in the Georgia National Guard in Atlanta as Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion and Company C, 200th Infantry Regiment. On June 9, 1924, the unit was redesignated as Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, and Company C, 122d Infantry Regiment.[i]

On July 1, 1939, the unit was converted and redesignated as Headquarters Battery and Combat Train, 1st Battalion, and Battery C, 179th Field Artillery. One year later the unit was reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1940 as Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 179th Field Artillery.

WWII insignia of the 179th FA.
Georgia Guard Archives

World War II

The 179^th FA was inducted into federal service Feb. 24, 1941 in Atlanta. And on Feb. 8, 1943 was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters Battery and Battery C, 179th Field Artillery Battalion.

After serving in the European Operations, the 179^th FA was inactivated Dec. 9, 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Va.

Post WWII Reorganizations

Upon the reorganization of the Ga. Guard in July 1946, the 179^th FA Battalion was assigned to the 48th Infantry Division. The 179^th was reorganized and federally recognized May 2, 1947.On Nov. 1, 1955, the 48^th was reorganized as the 48th Armored Division and the 179^th was redesignated as Headquarters Battery and Battery C, 179th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.

 Despite a driving rain, more than 3,000 Georgia Guardsman participated in the Army Day parade in Atlanta April 6, 1949. In this image Company C, 
179th Field Artillery Battalion, 48th Infantry Division tows a 155 mm howitzer down Peachtree Street. 
Georgia Guard Archives.

Subsequent reorganizations in 1959 and 1963 established the unit as Headquarters Battery and Battery C, 1st Rocket Howitzer Battalion, 179th Artillery and Headquarters and Service Battery and Battery D, 1st Battalion, 179th Artillery, respectively.

On January 1, 1968, the unit was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 170th Military Police Battalion. On that date the 170^th was relieved from assignment to the 48th Armored Division.

The 170^th MP Battalion was consolidated with the 190^th MP Company in September 1990 and the consolidated unit was redesignated as the 190th Military Police Company. The new unit inherited the lineage and honors of the 170^th MP Battalion which traced its lineage to the 945^th Field Artillery Battalion which served in Europe during World War II.

The 190^th MP Company relocated to Dobbins Air Force Base Oct. 1, 1995 and moved to its present location in Kennesaw on Sept. 1, 1997.

Mobilizations

On Sept. 17, 1990, the 190th MP was mobilized to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. They provided security support for ports and harbors as well as main supply route security and circulation control. The 138 MPs also served as a quick reaction force. The 190th MP Company returned to the United States in April 1991.[ii]

The 190th was activated for state service during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. The MPs provided event security and traffic control.[iii]

Lieutenant General Edward D. Baca, chief of the National Guard Bureau 

addresses Georgia National Guardsmen of the 190th Military Police Company

 before the start of their duty day. The MPs are supporting the 

Summer Olympic Games. 

Georgia National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Gail Parnelle / released

Just 28 days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 the 190^th MP was ordered to active duty. The MPs augmented security operations at Fort Stewart, Ga. for 12 months.[iv]

Sergeant Harold Davis a Georgia National Guardsman with the 190th Military Police

 Company, waves traffic through to the next stop at the Fort McPherson gates in 

September 2002. The 190th MPs were mobilized to augment Fort McPherson and 

Fort Gillem security in October 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks. 

Georgia National Guard photograph by Specialist Jeff Lowry 

On March 15, 2003, 124 Soldiers of the 190^th MP were activated for deployment to Iraq.   The unit served until March 13, 2004 before returning to Kennesaw.[v]

On Jan. 14, 2010 the 190^th MP, under the command of Capt. Pervis Brown, entered federal service and mobilized to Afghanistan. The MPs served at Bagram Air Base providing security for the base detention center. Additionally, the 190th escorted detainees to and from the center and served as part of the base’s immediate response force. The unit returned home Jan 7, 2011.[vi]

Captain Pervis Brown reports the return of the Kennesaw, Ga.-based 190th
Military Police Company from Afghanistan to Maj. Gen. Maria L. Britt,
commander of the Georgia Army Guard Jan 7, 2011.
Georgia National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry 

The 190th MP Company was mobilized following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and for Hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Michael from 2016 to 2018. During hurricane response operations the MPs assisted local law enforcement with curfew enforcement, security and traffic control missions.[vii]

Georgia Army National Guard Specialist David Roberts of the

 Kennesaw-based 190th Military Police Company gathers his gear

 prior to mobilization to the Gulf Coast in August 2005 in support

  of Hurricane Katrina. Ga. National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Gail Parnelle

---

[i] Department of the Army Lineage and Honors of the 190th Military Police Company – reference for Formation and Early History, WWII, Post WWII Reorganization

[ii] “After the Storm.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, Fall, 1991, 1.

[iii] “Flashback: 1996 Olympics.” The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, Summer, 2016, 17-19.

[iv] Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report, 2012.

[v] Department of the Army Lineage and Honors of the 190th Military Police Company.

[vi] "Kennesaw’s 190th MPs Come Home." The Georgia Guardsman Magazine, January 2011, 15.

[vii] Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report 2016, 2017 and 2018.