The thrilling story of the hurricane of 1938, the worst new england storm of the 20th century, as told by a reporter whose first day on the new bedford waterfront. Mary anne trasciatti, a professor of rhetoric at hofstra university who has lived in long beach since 2000, is collecting oral histories of hurricane sandys impact on the area. Some of the worst hurricanerelated effects in new yorks history. In terms of fatalities and property damage the 1938 hurricane is still one of the worst disasters in north american history. Scotti back bay books paperback 304 pages august 2004. Storms like hurricane gloria, which hit long island and connecticut in 1985, and hurricane bob, which went through rhode island and massachusetts in 1991, were both moderate compared to the 1938. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on. This system developed in the far eastern atlantic, near the cape verde islands on september 4. While this was an odd storm, the 1938 season is perhaps best known for the long island express hurricane of 1938 that devastated portions of new york and new england in september. The storm formed near the coast of africa on september 9, becoming a category 5 hurricane on the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, before making landfall as. On september, there was indications of a tropical cyclone near 19n 37w. Sep 09, 2012 the september day when the brutal hurricane of 1938 hit the east end started out warm and sunny, but it ended up leaving behind a wasteland of uprooted trees, ruined houses and smashed cars.
Recent statistics from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa show that the odds of a category 4 or higher hurricane hitting new york city is once. The great hurricane of 1938 save the dunes and beaches. The storm developed near the cape verde islands on september 9, tracking across the atlantic and up the eastern seaboard. Today youll hear five people, recorded back in 2008, recalling their experiences from brooklyn out to orient and up into massachusetts. The weather doctor almanac 2008 the great hurricane of 1938. The hurricane is now located about 350 miles east of daytona beach, fl. Weather storm, book annotation, after the storm, coast guard, american history. Hurricane information for long island city, ny homefacts. Since the hurricane moved at a speed similar to that of a. The september day when the brutal hurricane of 1938 hit the east end started out warm and sunny, but it ended up leaving behind a wasteland of uprooted trees, ruined houses and smashed cars. On the night of september 21, 1938, news on the radio was full of the invasion of czechoslovakia.
Without warning, a powerful category 3 hurricane slams into long island and. The system moved just northeast of the lesser antilles into the southwest atlantic as a fairly fast clip. Until, that is, a freak category 5 hurricane poorly forecast and underreported that was supposed to head harmlessly out to sea after missing florida instead took a fast track up the atlantic coast, savaged central long island and barreled right into narragansett bay, whipping away scores of summer homes, beach clubs, restaurants and other. The great hurricane of 1938 and millions of other books are. She stated in her 1991 book that 95% of her personal belongings were either lost or destroyed, including. The bridge on route 85 at onesquethaw creek was closed due to a westbound lane washout. Few paid attention to the storm barreling up the coast.
Called the long island expresss by some, the great new england hurricane by others, remembered by all who lived through it. By 20 september, it was east of the bahamas and had reached category 5 status. The 1939 atlantic hurricane season officially began on june 12, 1939, and lasted until november 7, 1939. The 1938 hurricane flattened the dunes, the overspill reaching across dune road and beyond. History reveals hurricane threat to new york city a modern perspective on the risks to new york city. The great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869. We often walked the beach where the houses once existed. The great new england hurricane of 1938 cat 3 september 21, 1938 the great new england hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike southern new england. Hurricane evacuation routes nassau county, ny official. With riveting detail, burns weaves together the countless personal stories of loved ones lost and lives changed forever from those of the moore family, washed to sea on a raft formerly. The great 1938 hurricane, a onceinalifetime storm new. The following is a letter scanned from richard hendricksons book winds of. While this is not predicted in the case of earl, its only a matter of time before another storm the size of the 1938 long island express, a category 3 hurricane that crashed headlong into long island, comes. The 1938 hurricane, the most severe and terrifying storm to hit long island in living memory, struck on september 21, a day that had dawned bright and fair in the seaside communities between westhampton beach and montauk point.
Apr 12, 2018 according to the wmo, 2017 was a recordsetting season. On september 21, 1938, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck long island and southern new england. The larger one was to the east of the beach club at 156162 dune road. The great 1938 hurricane took almost everyone by surprise. Four clips of this video will be aired on this season of long island medium. Eightyfour tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the state of new york since the 17th century. Oct 22, 20 hurricane irene had given new york a good scare and new england a thorough drubbing in august 2011, but the last time a major hurricane had hit the city was 1938. On the day of september 21, 1938, the storm was moving at about 30 miles an hour as it passed cape hatteras and the carolina coast at 8. Seven hours later, the category 3 hurricane smacked. History reveals hurricane threat to new york city live science.
Region remembers anniversary of powerful hurricane carol. A hurricane also supposedly struck staten island in november, 1950, and it was the worst storm to hit there. This book was absolutely fascinating and i stayed up late at night reading it. My mom waded into the water with me on her shoulders. More than 200 homes had been perched on dunes 20 feet high. The 1938 new england hurricane also referred to as the great new england hurricane, long island express, and yankee clipper was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclones to strike long island, new york, and new england. For the auxilliary interstate highway, see long island expressway. Indeed, a row of 39 homes along a beach in connecticut where totally washed away. Now a yankee classic, this article was first published in september, 1988.
San francisco earthquakeisland parklong island nythe weather. Hurricane irene had given new york a good scare and new england a thorough drubbing in august 2011, but the last time a major hurricane had. Mar 15, 20 mary anne trasciatti, a professor of rhetoric at hofstra university who has lived in long beach since 2000, is collecting oral histories of hurricane sandys impact on the area. The great new england hurricane of 1938 national weather service. A category 2 hurricane weaker than the category 3 storm in 1938 but still stronger than gloria, with 110 m. Stately homes along ocean beach were leveled by the storm surge. Hurricane information for binghamton, ny homefacts. Hurricane evacuation routes in the event of a hurricane evacuation, use the following routes from the south shore. Weve got the latest on potential impacts on long island. The regional perspective on the 1938 hurricane lots of great pictures of the destruction in connecticut and rhode island. More than 200 homes had been perched on dunes 20feet high. Waves ranging from 30 to 50 feet swept houses and families right out to sea. I live in southeastern massachusetts and i recall my mom and dad talking about the hurricane of 1938.
Hurricane of 1938 the wind that shook the world new. By 4 pm, one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes ever to hit southern new england made landfall between bridgeport and new haven. From the first pages, burns work of nonfiction is a pageturner, that when i needed a book set in rhode island for my 52 books around the usa challenge, i was stumped. The main road through the island is just visible in the center of the lower portion of the photograph. Just after it became safe to go outside this is the first look at the destruction sandy caused in long beach ny. A focus will be on the locations within the national weather service new york, ny forecast area.
It came ashore at long island on september 21 with winds of 155 and gusts up to 180. For the first time his wife irene could ever remember, harold higginbotham decided not to go to work. Recent statistics from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa show that the odds of a category 4 or. Flashback to 1938 major hurricane hits new york science buzz. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
The eastern end of fire island, ny near moriches inlet after the 1938 hurricane. By the 16th, it had become a strengthening hurricane, near 21n 53w. New york cbsnewyorkap seventyfive years ago saturday, a deadly and fastmoving storm hit long island and new england and surprised. The storm hit long island and southern connecticut on september 21, moving at a. A s the last person alive to leave the beach at quogue during the eye of the 1938 hurricane otis bradley was trapped at a childrens party in westhampton beach i can add a memory or two to john posts contribution. Binghamton, ny is in a very low risk hurricane zone. Until, that is, a freak category 5 hurricane poorly forecast and underreported that was supposed to head harmlessly out to sea after missing florida instead took a fast track up the atlantic coast, savaged central long island and barreled right into narragansett bay, whipping away scores of summer homes, beach. See more ideas about new england, north carolina and rhode island history. That pushed sand almost to the canal and destroyed one house and damaged others.
Hurricane history for long island from 1893 to present. Sep 02, 2010 the blog looks back to a 2005 new york press article on the citys capacity to deal with a direct hit from a very large hurricane. New england hurricane 1938 history interviews aftermath. Oct 25, 2017 were looking back to the hurricane of 1938 on this episode. Since i was born in 1965, i only remember the hurricanes from 1976 and forward. The only thing close to carol before that was the great hurricane of 1938. Were looking back to the hurricane of 1938 on this episode. Hurricane sandy 2012 long beach ny aftermath as seen on. Long island city, ny is in a high risk hurricane zone. The only hurricane in modern times known to pass directly over parts of new york city pushed the tide up feet in one.
On september 21, 1938, new england was hit by a category 3 hurricane. The hurricane of september 21, 1938 and the long island. The weather doctor almanac 2008 the great hurricane of. Scotti contends that the states death toll was closer to 433. Click here to see a map of the evacuation zones and routes. As a meteorologist, ive read several more recent books on the 1938 hurricane, and this is probably. This is a great book detailing a sad and disastrous event in weather annals. The hurricane of september 21, 1938 and the long island rail road wreck at fairy dell in quogue, li, ny. Not since 1869 had this region experienced such a violent hurricane.
This holiday hurricane was a most unpleasant surprise. According to the wmo, 2017 was a recordsetting season. The storm formed near the coast of africa in september of the 1938 atlantic hurricane season, becoming a category 5 hurricane on the saffirsimpson. The deadly 1938 hurricane known as the long island express roared into elsie wartas life seven decades ago with a ferocity she remembers to this day. The september day when the brutal hurricane of 1938 hit the east end started out warm and sunny, but it ended up leaving behind a wasteland of. The hurricane of 1938 the long island history project. Hurricane in the hamptons, 1938 ny images of america. However, it was mainly known as the new england hurricane of 1938. New england still battles floods with many subheads and inside page reports and photos. The regional perspective on the 1938 hurricane lots of great pictures of.
At westhampton, which lay directly in the path of the storm, 150 beach homes. Photo courtesy mitchell field, 2nd air base squadron. Check out wfo bostonnortons 1938 hurricane page on september 21, 1938, one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history struck long island and southern new england. Jul 30, 2007 at least 262 people were killed in rhode island, though in the 2003 book sudden sea. The most recent long island city, ny hurricane was andrea in 20. These are the hurricanes that may hit long island this. The 1938 new england hurricane also referred to as the great new england hurricane, long island express, and yankee clipper was one of the deadliest and most. Hughes stated that major hurricanes have hit the new york region in 1635, 1815, 1821, 1893, and 1938. Hurricane history for long island ive been doing research on the hurricane history for long island. The great hurricane, 1938 and millions of other books are available for instant. Bridges were closed on i90, i88, us route 20, new york route 7, new york route 5s, new york route 161, new york route 30, and all bridges over the schoharie creek, from the gilboa dam to the mohawk river.
The hurricane of 1938 was one of the most devastating storms to strike new. Feb 11, 2016 one of the worst hurricanes that primarily affected new england, hurricane carol rampaged through north carolina and new york. The long island express hurricane of 1938 curbed hamptons. The system developed off the cape verde islands around september 4, 1938. Nothing makes me happier than to sit in front of the weather channel and watch a severe storm front develop into a potential monster hurricane. The storm, which tore through the keys on september 2, 1935, with 185 mph winds and a storm surge of more than 20 feet, had been only a category 1 hurricane the day before when it spun across the bahamas. Nov 01, 2012 four clips of this video will be aired on this season of long island medium. The new england hurricane of 1938 or great new england hurricane or long island express or simply the great hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike new england since 1869.
Dreading a replay of the 1938 hurricane the new york times. At least 262 people were killed in rhode island, though in the 2003 book sudden sea. The hurricane, one of the most destructive to ever hit new england, was followed by massive river flooding as the water dumped by the storm10 to 17 inches. Over the next 24 hours, it moved through new england causing incredible damage throughout those states to crops, trees, and livestock. The 1938 new england hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical. See more ideas about hurricane sandy, long island and west babylon. The hurricane, one of the most destructive to ever hit new england, was followed by massive river flooding as the water dumped by the storm10 to 17 inches fell on the connecticut river basin.
The state of new york is located along the east coast of the united states, in the northeastern portion of the country. Long island, ny, 1938 the worst hurricane to hit the eastern seaboard in modern. Meanwhile, new jersey has not been directly impacted by a hurricane in some 180 years, and is long overdue for one. Hurricane sandy 2012 long beach ny aftermath as seen on long. Traveling 960 km 600 mi in approximately 12 hours time, the great new england hurricane of 1938 exhibited the fastest forward speed upwards of 96 kmh 60mph ever recorded in hurricane history. New england long island ny hurricane disaster 1938 freak storm this 56 page newspaper has a three line, four column headline on the front page.
In a matter of hours, 600 people were killed, 4500 were injured, and more than 75,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. On the night of september 21,1938, news on the radio was full o. These dates mark the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the atlantic basin. Photos of the long island express hurricane of 1938 on. The blog looks back to a 2005 new york press article on the citys capacity to deal with a direct hit from a very large hurricane.
The great hurricane of 1938 a very indepth history of the storm. Jul 24, 2015 on september 21, 1938, new england was hit by a category 3 hurricane. Photo courtesy mitchell field, 2nd air base squadron u. While only aged 3 12 then, there are certain things succinctly remembered. The new york times, new york, ny, september 23, 1938.
524 1033 1271 1512 1455 440 1443 626 1023 1503 1108 1064 561 840 254 555 1118 982 339 262 534 1156 656 953 1226 1182 1007 1500 565 595 781 400 369 1283 1289 1277 1287 245 1479 544 1080 579 721 120 776