George Michelsen Foy - Run the Storm: A Savage Hurricane, a Brave Crew, and the Wreck of the SS El Faro

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ALSO BY GEORGE MICHELSEN FOY

Finding North: How Navigation Makes Us Human

Zero Decibels: The Quest for Absolute Silence

Scribner

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Copyright 2018 by George Michelsen Foy

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Scribner Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Scribner hardcover edition May 2018

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Interior design by Kyle Kabel

Jacket design by David Litman

Jacket photograph of the SS El Faro by John Curdy; Stormy Ocean by a Aron Foster / Getty Images; Water Droplets by R. Tsubin / Getty Images

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-5011-8489-5

ISBN 978-1-5011-8491-8 (ebook)

PHOTO CREDITS : National Transportation Safety Board

This book is dedicated to the courageous, steadfast, and skilled men and women of El Faro , and to the families and friends of El Faro s crew who have honored their memory with grace and fortitude. And to the unsung heroes of the American merchant marine, who work hard, lonely hours, day in, day outin conditions that are usually unrecognized, often uncomfortable, and sometimes perilousto supply their country with 90 percent of everything.

Deadly vortex : Hurricane Joaquin on October 1, 2015. The eye is just visible in the middle of the storms swirl; El Faro s last known position at 7:30 a.m. was almost exactly in the same place.

I came to explore the wreck.

The words are purposes.

The words are maps.

I came to see the damage that was done

and the treasures that prevail.

Adrienne Rich, Diving into the Wreck

He said to run it. Hold on to your ass, Larry.

Danielle Randolph, second mate of the SS El Faro

The road not taken : The straight line represents El Faro s usual, direct route from Jacksonville to San Juan. The dotted line below it shows her final journey. The curved line to the west marks the route via Old Bahama Channel that she took to avoid Tropical Storm Erika, in late August 2015.

CREW OF THE SS EL FARO

DECK DEPARTMENT

Michael C. Davidson, 53, captain: Windham, Maine

Danielle L. Randolph, 34, second mate: Rockland, Maine

Roan R. Lightfoot, 54, bosun: Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Larry Brookie Davis, 63, able seaman: Jacksonville, Florida

Carey J. Hatch, 49, able seaman: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackie R. Jones Jr., 38, able seaman: Jacksonville, Florida

Mariette Wright, 51, deckhand: Saint Augustine, Florida

Steven W. Shultz, 54, chief mate: Roan Mountain, Tennessee

Jeremie H. Riehm, 46, third mate: Camden, Delaware

Roosevelt L. Bootsy Clark, 38, deckhand: Jacksonville, Florida

Frank J. Hamm III, 49, able seaman: Jacksonville, Florida

Jack E. Jackson, 60, able seaman: Jacksonville, Florida

James P. Porter, 40, deckhand: Jacksonville, Florida

ENGINE DEPARTMENT

Richard J. Pusatere, 34, chief engineer: Virginia Beach, Virginia