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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This black-and-white film (main title missing) was made to highlight the quick response and efforts of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in repairing damage caused by Hurricane Carla in Texas and other Southern USA states. Hurricane Carla struck in early September 1961 after forming in the Caribbean Sea and was later categorized as a Category 4 storm. The hurricane caused the most damage in Texas which led to flooding and property damages but surprisingly relatively little loss of life. The film depicts the damage caused to the area and the work of Southwestern Bell employees and technicians from across the country as they journeyed to Texas to help in repair efforts, specifically in repairing downed telephone lines. Water crashing against shore, flooding, debris strewn about as narrator discusses Hurricane Carla (0:06). POV driving through flood waters, assessing property damage; Collapsed homes and commercial buildings (1:25). Long line of vehicles stuck in bumper to bumper traffic as they try to escape storm (1:42). Damaged buildings, debris after subsequent hurricanes (2:02). Rattlesnake hisses, curls up in field; Officer uses small pistol to shoot at snake (2:24). Black neighborhood gathers on sidewalk as part of perhaps funeral (2:41). Restoration efforts: United States Coast Guard truck, Salvation Army truck drives through town (3:05). Row of young female telephone operators sit in front of switchboard with head sets (4:35). Mid-1940s telephone company contractor operates tractor with caterpillar tread through mud; Laying telephone lines below ground (5:10). Examples of buildings (mid-century modern, minimalist design) built with storm proofing in mind: Dial office in Sabine Pass, Port Arthur, Texas (5:34). Back of 1961 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe as it drives through flood water (6:05). Footage shakes as cameraman battles strong winds; Telephone operator crouches underneath umbrella as he tries to service underground cable that had been washed bare (6:26). Telephone technicians hoisted up by cranes on telephone poles, assess damage, and repair wires (6:40). Southwestern Bell employees in button up shirts, ties at central command center in Houston, Texas track storm on map in order to prepare for damages; Men shown working through the night/ storm by gasoline lamp at desk, drinking coffee (7:03). Scenes from other command centers; Monitoring/ gathering data on damage in local areas to report to command center (7:35). Two office workers adjust pins on map to denote heavily damaged areas where technicians should be dispatched (7:56). Southwestern Bell technicians in other states make their way to Texas: Men plaster slogan stickers onto repair vehicles in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma (8:05). Row of perhaps 1959 Chevrolet Apache service vehicles lined up on special car carrier freight train leaving Missouri, Arkansas (8:28). Convoy of repair trucks arriving from Oklahoma; Another convoy drives from Wichita, Kansa; Pull into and park around Walker County Fairgrounds (9:13). Repairmen from the northern United States say bye to loved ones and families at airports, train stations before boarding trains, TWA jet (9:52). Female phone operators arrive off planes, trains, chartered Greyhound busses; Relieve local operators and take over handling switchboards; Scenes of women grabbing headsets from small cubbies (10:11). Telephone command centers converted into refuges for employees and their families Galveston, Texas City, Houston, Victoria, Corpus Christi; Young boy stretches out on make-shift cot bed (12:23). Texas City building used as police headquarters (12:49). Kids try to entertain themselves over dominoes, games; Wives of servicemen use small kitchen, stoves to feed employees (13:05). In hard hit areas, men take over women’s shifts at call centers and man switchboards (14:36). Local distribution warehouse of Western Electric; hurricane survival supplies organized and shipped to threatened areas before hurricane arrived; Men load cargo onto TWA Lockheed L-1649 Starliner (15:11). More shots from inside supply warehouses; Narrates details supplies needed (16:09). Aerial view of flooding enveloping whole neighborhood (17:46). Reconstruction efforts in Galveston, Victoria. Fallen telephone wires and technicians working night and day; Men illuminated by searchlights working through night/ harsh weather (17:56). Technicians make beds in makeshift dormitories in schools, warehouses (18:47). Closing credits (21:22). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
