One thing is certain we are stuck here, no matter what. The base is barely 10 feet above sea level. Our building will surely be among the first hit. Only two city blocks of homes and a raised railroad grade stand between us and the Gulf of Mexico. For safety, airmen from the top two floors crowd together with us on the first floor.
Mattresses line the hall floor and walls.
Extras stand ready to pull over the top to form a protective tunnel if we're threatened by building collapse. In each room, more mattresses are buttressed against the windows to stop flying debris. We put fresh batteries in our flashlights. We can think of nothing else to do to protect ourselves, so we stand waiting in silence as the sound of the wind gets louder. The wait seems endless.